Reo Hatate netted a crucial equalizer to secure a point for Celtic as they rallied from a two-goal deficit to finish 2-2 against Rangers in an exhilarating Old Firm encounter at Ibrox.
A stunning goal from Youssef Chermiti gave Rangers an early advantage as they intensified their attack, and the forward capitalized on some careless defending from Celtic to extend their lead before the 30-minute mark.
After the break, Celtic showed significant improvement, with Kieran Tierney’s goal narrowing the gap, and they dominated the second half of the match.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti executed a stunning overhead kick reminiscent of Wayne Rooney’s iconic goal for Manchester United.
In the final moments, they received their reward when Daizen Maeda’s header hit Dujon Sterling’s hand, leading to Hatate’s penalty kick, which was initially saved by Jack Butland, but the midfielder managed to push the ball into the net on the follow-up.
Both teams had observed Hearts increase their advantage at the top the previous day and recognized that a victory for either was crucial to maintain the pressure on the league frontrunners in an exciting title contest.
The match commenced at its typical intense pace, but it was the home team that appeared to find their rhythm more effectively. Nico Raskin compelled Viljami Sinisalo to make an early save before being flagged for offside, indicating the mounting pressure from Rangers.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Youssef Chermiti takes advantage of an error from Dane Murray at the back to score his second goal in the Rangers vs Celtic match.
Just eight minutes into the match, they took the initiative as Andreas Skov Olsen delivered a cross into the center of the box, where Chermiti executed a remarkable overhead kick, sending the ball past Sinisalo.
The hosts were full of confidence and almost scored again shortly after. Mikey Moore surged forward on the left flank and delivered a cross to the back post, but Chermiti and Skov Olsen worked together to deflect the ball off the outside of the post, resulting in a goal kick.
Celtic attempted to regain control of the match as Daizen Maeda’s cross slipped past Junior Adamu, leading to Tierney forcing Butland into action with a perilous low delivery into the area.
The Rangers posed a threat each time they entered Celtic’s attacking zone, and they extended their advantage after 26 minutes. Dane Murray struggled to clear Raskin’s lofted pass, allowing a determined Chermiti to seize the ball from Julian Araujo’s path, skillfully maneuvering around the defender to slot it past Sinisalo.
Goal: Kieran Tierney of Celtic nets to bring the score to 2-1 against Rangers
Just five minutes before the break, the hosts nearly found themselves in an even better position when Moore’s cross was expertly met by the towering Emmanuel Fernandez, but his header went just wide of the target.
At the interval, Martin O’Neill opted for a tactical shift, bringing on Sebastian Tounekti and Hatate to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu, yet it was Rangers who began the second half with greater intensity.
Skov Olsen had a shot that was deflected wide, while Tuur Rommens could have capitalized better after meeting a Moore cross at the far post, but he directed his attempt right at Sinisalo.
For a better video player experience, please utilize the Chrome browser. Kieran Tierney’s impressive header brings Celtic back into the game early in the second half during the Rangers vs Celtic match.
In the second half, Celtic began to establish their presence, gaining more possession and putting pressure on the home team. Benjamin Nygren had an opportunity but shot well over the crossbar from the edge of the area, while Hatate forced Butland into making a solid save from long range.
"We mentioned that a score of 2-0 is always challenging because the opponent only needs a single moment to make a comeback. During the second half, we lacked precision in our possession, allowing them too many opportunities to regain the ball.
"At halftime, we expressed our desire to maintain the momentum we had, but there were instances where we faltered and lost possession. They gained some confidence after the 2-1 scoreline and had nothing to lose. We’re quite disheartened today, but we must regroup and prepare for next week."
Rangers’ head coach Danny Rohl discusses his team’s 2-2 draw against Celtic in the Old Firm match, despite having a two-goal advantage at halftime.
"It was evident to me that we needed a 3-0 scoreline. We had opportunities to achieve this, but ultimately they had nothing to lose and managed to score the 2-1. We fought for that point until the end, and it was fortunate for them to receive a penalty so late in the game."
Rangers’ head coach Danny Rohl discussed the VAR and penalty situation on Sky Sports:
"Perhaps, perhaps not; I believe this isn’t truly my role.
"What truly matters is that each week you make sound decisions, and while today and last week didn’t go our way, that’s just part of football."
