In a frenetic Old Firm clash at Ibrox, Celtic came from two points behind to draw 2-2 with Rangers, with Reo Hatate’s late equalizer saving them a point.
Youssef Cermiti’s stunning goal gave Rangers an early lead as the hosts ramped up the pressure, and the striker took advantage of a laxity in Celtic’s defense to double their lead just before the half-hour mark.
Celtic closed the gap through Kieran Tierney’s header and improved significantly after half-time and were the better team in the second period.
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Rangers striker Youssef Chelmiti scores a stunning overhead kick similar to Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney’s famous goal
In the dying minutes of the match, Daenen Maeda’s header hit Dujon Sterling, Hatate’s spot-kick and follow-up were saved by Jack Butland, and the midfielder ultimately slotted the ball into the net.
Both teams had watched Hearts extend their lead at the top of the table the previous day and knew a win for either side was essential to keep the pressure on the league leaders in the heated title race.
The match started at its usual frenetic tempo, but it was the home team who finished it off with more purpose. Nico Raskin forced an early stop on Biljami Sinisalo before being recalled for offside, but it was a sign that Rangers were under pressure.
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Youssef Cermiti takes advantage of Dane Murray’s mistake at the back to score his second goal for his former club.
They took the lead just eight minutes into the game when Andreas Skov Olsen sent a cross into the center of the box, which Celmiti met with a superb overhead kick and fired the ball past Sinisalo.
The hosts held their tails up and almost took second place. Mikey Moore picked up the pace on the left and set the ball up at the back post, but Celmitty and Skov Olsen combined to knock the ball over the outside of the post for a goal kick.
Celtic tried to get back into the game when Daenen Maeda’s cross deflected past Junior Adam before Tierney put Butland into action with a dangerous low ball into the box.
However, Rangers looked dangerous every time they entered Celtic’s final third and doubled their lead after 26 minutes. Dane Murray unsuccessfully tried to clear Ruskin’s clipped ball over the top, and the tenacious Cermiti snatched the ball from the path of Julian Araujo, flicking it past the defender and finishing past Sinizaro.
Celtic’s Kieran Tierney scores to make it 2-1 against Rangers
Five minutes before half-time, Moore’s cross was well met by Emmanuel Fernandes, but his header went just wide.
Manager Martin O’Neill made changes at half-time, bringing on Sebastian Tunekuti and flag bearer for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adam, but it was Rangers who started the first half with the advantage.
Skov Olsen saw his shot deflect wide before Tur Rommen, who met Moore’s cross at the back post, took a better shot, but he sent it straight to Sinisalo.
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Kieran Tierney’s confident header gives Celtic a goal early in the second half against his old club.
However, Celtic began to gain a foothold in the second half shortly thereafter, but won more of the ball and frustrated the hosts. Benjamin Nygren had a chance but his shot from the edge of the box went wide over the bar, but Hatate forced a good save from Butland from distance.
They were rewarded just before time expired as Rangers failed to clear their lines and Nygren delivered a cross into the box which freed up Tierney to head it past Butland and into the goal.
Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates his goal against Rangers to make it 2-2
Celtic had a great chance to equalize shortly after when Maeda found space in the box, but his header could only go straight to Butland before the standard bearer fired from the edge of the box.
After some great build-up play, the visitors should have scored an equalizer in the 78th minute. Luke McCowan found himself in acres of space, but his curling attempt was smothered by Butland.
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Dujon Sterling’s handball gives Celtic a late penalty, which Reo Hatate sinks to equalize with his former club.
Things were tense at Ibrox as the clock ticked down and Rangers fans thought they had witnessed another incredible Butland save from Maeda’s header, but referee John Beaton was called to the monitor and ruled that Sterling had used his hands to deflect the Celtic forward’s chance.
The Rangers goalkeeper made a superb stop to deny Hatate’s shot from the spot and was unable to prevent his follow-up, but the midfielder eventually curled the ball into the net, helping Celtic secure the final point, much to the excitement of Hearts and Motherwell fans.
O’Neill: ‘Celtic could have won’
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill told Sky Sports:
“In the first half, we weren’t good. We were second best. We weren’t even second, we were about fourth. Rangers got off to a great start, dominated the game, got the second goal, but it wasn’t great from our point of view.”
“At half-time we thought we had to show more determination, more spirit, more aggressiveness and be able to win the second ball and then pass. Apart from the first three or four minutes of the second half, we completely dominated the second period and I thought we deserved something from the game.”
“And if we had opened up opportunities that we didn’t take, we could have won easily.
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Martin O’Neill reflects on Celtic’s 2-2 draw at his old club and believes Celtic are still very much in the title race
“The second half was ours and we were excellent. The crowd started to worry about their own performance. We had the upper hand and played really well in the second half. It takes determination to get through, but we played really well in the second half, wave after wave. And it was the same at Ibrox, so that gave us even more courage.”
“In contrast to years ago, I’m relatively calm. If it was the old team, we would have gone completely wild (at halftime). But this team, like the old team, found a way and came roaring back.”
“They showed a little bit of determination and heart and that was the case. That’s the mark of a champion. Generally speaking, they’re on cruise control for the last few months of each season, which has been really difficult. We’ve been chasing to the end and that will continue to be the case.”
Roll: Rangers needed third goal
Rangers head coach Danny Rolle said on Sky Sports:
“It’s very disappointing when you’re leading 2-0 and it’s a draw at the end. I thought we played great in the first half. The first five or six minutes, including the start of the second half, went really well.”
“We said that 2-0 is always difficult because they need a moment and then they can counterattack. In the second half we clinically didn’t keep the ball and they had too many chances to get it back.
“At half-time we said we wanted to continue on the back line, but there were moments when we couldn’t do that and we lost the ball. They had the momentum at 2-1 and we had nothing to lose. It’s really disappointing today, but we have to go again next week.”
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Rangers head coach Danny Rolle reflected on the 2-2 draw between the sides at Old Farm despite leading by two points at half-time.
“For me it was clear that we needed 3-0. We had our moments to do it, but in the end they had nothing to lose and made it 2-1. We fought for this point until the end and it was lucky for them to get the penalty so late.”
Rangers head coach Danny Rolle spoke on Sky Sports about VAR and the penalty incident.
“Maybe, maybe not, but I don’t think that’s really my role.
“The important thing is that we can make good decisions every week. We played against us today and last week, but this is football.”
