Hearts the winner after dramatic Glasgow derby
Rangers 2 - 2 Celtic
Resurgent Celtic fought back from two goals down to snatch a dramatic 91st minute draw against Rangers.
Author | Sean M
Stadium | Ibrox
This is a result that leaves Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a commanding cushion over both Old Firm rivals.
Rangers had looked in control thanks to a stunning early double from Youssef Chermiti, opened by a world-class overhead kick that evoked memories of Scott McTominay’s strike for Scotland against Denmark late last year.
Having already struck twice at Celtic Park at the turn of the year, the Portuguese forward repeated the feat on home soil as a reshuffled Celtic defence buckled under sustained pressure. A misjudged clearance from Dane Murray allowed Chermiti to pounce again, slipping past Julian Araujo before rounding the stand-in goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, who was deputising for the unwell Kasper Schmeichel.
At half-time it felt like a blow from which Celtic might not recover, but Martin O’Neill altered the momentum by introducing Reo Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti after the interval. Both played a part in the goal that reignited Celtic’s belief, finished with a powerful Kieran Tierney header from Benjamin Nygren’s cross.
Celtic went on to dominate the second half, with Jack Butland producing saves to deny Daizen Maeda and Luke McCowan, yet the contest still had late drama in store.
A great weekend for Hearts (and maybe Motherwell) fans
The body language at the end told its own story: Celtic buoyant, Rangers shell-shocked. Two goals ahead, dominant in every department, and still they were caught by a side that has turned the 90th-minute reprieve into a calling card. The aftermath was fractious. Pushing and shoving, fingers pointed, tempers frayed.
This was a stalemate that felt far kinder to Celtic than Rangers, though in truth it did neither much good. From Edinburgh, there was the faint sound of laughter.
There was no winner at Ibrox in this 2-2 draw, but others profited. Derek McInnes at the summit and Jens Berthel Askou in fourth might have offered a quiet prayer before kick-off. A draw was exactly what they would have wanted, and they got it.
Hearts and Motherwell end the weekend in a stronger position. Rangers and Celtic, by contrast, tore at each other and inflicted plenty of damage.
Their strengths and flaws were laid bare right to the final whistle of a tumultuous afternoon. It was a gripping contest, hard-edged football with everything. Moments of brilliance and vulnerability from the opening exchanges to the closing act, with the psychology as compelling as the play itself.
