Reo Hatate scored a late equaliser to rescue a degree for Celtic as they got here from two targets down to attract 2-2 with Rangers in a pulsating Outdated Agency conflict at Ibrox.
A Youssef Chermiti marvel purpose put Rangers forward early on because the hosts piled on the stress earlier than the striker took benefit of some slack Celtic defending to double their lead earlier than the half-hour mark.
Celtic improved tremendously after half-time with Kieran Tierney’s header lowering the deficit they usually had been the higher staff within the second interval.
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Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti scored an unbelievable overhead kick much like the well-known purpose by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United
They received their reward within the dying minutes when Daizen Maeda’s header struck the hand of Dujon Sterling, with Hatate’s spot-kick and comply with up initially saved by Jack Butland earlier than the midfielder finally bundled the ball into the online.
Either side had watched Hearts lengthen their lead on the prime the day earlier than and knew a win on both aspect was important to maintain the stress on the league leaders in an enthralling title race.
The sport began at its standard frantic tempo nevertheless it was the house aspect who settled with extra objective. Nico Raskin pressured Viljami Sinisalo into an early cease earlier than being known as again for offside nevertheless it was an indication of constructing Rangers stress.
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Youssef Chermiti capitalises on Dane Murray’s error on the again to get his second purpose within the Outdated Agency
They did take the lead simply eight minutes in with Andreas Skov Olsen standing his cross as much as the centre of the field the place Chermiti met it with a surprising overhead kick to fireplace the ball previous Sinisalo.
The hosts had their tails up and almost received a second quickly after. Mikey Moore superior with tempo down the left earlier than standing a ball as much as the again put up however Chermiti and Skov Olsen mixed to knock the ball onto the surface of the put up and out for a purpose kick.
Celtic did attempt to work their means again into the sport with Daizen Maeda’s cross evading Junior Adamu earlier than Tierney known as Butland into motion with a harmful low ball into the field.
Rangers appeared harmful each time they received into Celtic’s last third, nevertheless, they usually doubled their lead after 26 minutes. Dane Murray made a large number of making an attempt to clear Raskin’s clipped ball excessive, with a persistent Chermiti then robbing the ball from the trail of Julian Araujo to flick the ball around the defender and end previous Sinisalo.
Celtic’s Kieran Tierney scores to make it 2-1 in opposition to Rangers
It almost received even higher for the hosts 5 minutes earlier than half-time when Moore’s cross was met effectively by the towering Emmanuel Fernandez however his header flashed simply large.
Martin O’Neill made adjustments at half-time, introducing Sebastian Tounekti and Hatate rather than Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu nevertheless it was Rangers who began the half on the entrance foot.
Skov Olsen noticed an effort deflected large earlier than Tuur Rommens may have performed higher after connecting with a Moore cross on the again put up however he despatched his effort straight at Sinisalo.
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Kieran Tierney’s stable header will get Celtic a purpose again early within the second half of the Outdated Agency
Celtic did begin to acquire a foothold within the second half shortly after that, nevertheless, getting extra of the ball and irritating the hosts. Benjamin Nygren had an opportunity however fired effectively over the bar from the sting of the field earlier than Hatate pressured Butland into a very good save from distance.
They had been rewarded for his or her stress simply earlier than the hour mark when Rangers didn’t clear their traces, permitting Nygren to ship a cross into the field the place Tierney was unmarked and he powered a header again throughout Butland and into the online.
Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates scoring to make it 2-2 in opposition to Rangers
Celtic had an excellent likelihood to get again on stage phrases quickly after when Maeda discovered some area within the field however he may solely direct his header straight at Butland earlier than Hatate fired over from the sting of the field.
The guests actually ought to have gotten their equaliser after 78 minutes following some good build-up play, when Luke McCowan discovered himself in acres of area however his curling effort was smothered by Butland.
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Dujon Sterling’s handball presents Celtic late penalty that Reo Hatate places away to stage the rating within the Outdated Agency
Ibrox was nervy because the clock ticked down and Rangers followers thought they’d witnessed one other unbelievable Butland save from a Maeda header just for referee John Beaton to be known as to the monitor with Sterling adjudged to have used his hand to deflect the Celtic ahead’s likelihood.
The Rangers goalkeeper produced an excellent cease to disclaim Hatate from the spot after which once more on the comply with up however he couldn’t forestall the midfielder finally bundling the ball into the online to assist Celtic safe a final gasp level in a outcome that can go away Hearts and Motherwell followers thrilled.
