In a dramatic showdown at Ibrox, Brendan Rodgers squashed early doubts about his second stint with Celtic, clinching a decisive Old Firm victory over Rangers in a match rife with controversy.
Kyogo Furuhashi emerged as the hero once again, seizing upon a defensive lapse from the Rangers just before halftime to hammer home his sixth goal in five Old Firm appearances.
However, this was no straightforward match; it was marred by contentious refereeing decisions. Rabbi Matondo had an early goal disallowed for offside, while a later effort by Kemar Roofe was annulled due to a dubious foul by Cyriel Dessers on Gustaf Lagerbielke.
Referee Don Robertson turned to VAR to disallow the goal, despite Lagerbielke appearing to kick through Rangers’ striker while losing possession.
Rangers’ manager Michael Beale had hoped to “set the tone” following a devastating midweek loss in the Champions League, but instead finds himself under mounting pressure with just a single win in six derbies against Celtic.
Remarkably, Celtic managed to hang on to their lead in the second half, despite a patchwork defense that featured Old Firm debutants Lagerbielke and Liam Scales. Their performance, combined with some crucial saves from Joe Hart, propelled Celtic to the top of the Scottish Premiership table, a full four points ahead of their Old Firm rivals.
A Battle of Under-Pressure Managers
The atmosphere was already electric, but the stakes were uniquely high this time. Both managers entered the game on shaky ground. Rodgers, still working to win over portions of the Celtic fandom, was still smarting from a recent Viaplay Cup exit and a dull draw against St Johnstone. Beale, on the other hand, was fresh off a humiliating 5-1 loss to PSV in the Champions League qualifiers.
The high-tension match saw both teams alternately handling the pressure better than the other. Furuhashi missed an up-close opportunity, saw a shot cleared by Connor Goldson, and later skied a chance that should’ve been an assist for Liel Abada, who had just made Jack Butland work for a sensational save.
A Tale of Defensive Grit and Missed Opportunities
The latter part of the game turned into a defensive masterclass from Celtic and a glaring display of Rangers’ inability to finish. The most noteworthy miss came from Sam Lammers, who failed to score even after bypassing Joe Hart, who later made two significant saves to stonewall Danilo in the closing moments.
Player of the Match – Liam Scales
Liam Scales, the Celtic centre-back making his Old Firm debut, rose to the occasion in the second half, anchoring a makeshift defense with a performance worthy of the history books.
Additional Stats & Analysis
Possession
- Home: 50%
- Away: 50%
Shots
- Home: 17
- Away: 7
Shots on Target
- Home: 3
- Away: 5
Corners
- Home: 6
- Away: 2
Fouls
- Home: 15
- Away: 15
Player Ratings
Players were rated on a scale from 1 to 10, and it’s safe to say nobody was reaching for the 10s. Butland earned an average rating of 5.20, while his teammates hovered mostly around the low 4s, underlining a day to forget for the Rangers squad.
So, if you’re a Celtic fan, today was a good day. If you’re a Rangers fan, maybe steer clear of social media for a bit. And if you’re a neutral, well, you got to witness one heck of a drama-filled match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Old Firm Victory
Who won the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic?
Celtic won the Old Firm derby, defeating Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox. The game was marked by a decisive goal from Kyogo Furuhashi.
Who scored the decisive goal for Celtic?
Kyogo Furuhashi scored the crucial goal for Celtic, marking his sixth goal in just five Old Firm appearances.
Why was the game considered controversial?
The game was deemed controversial due to several refereeing decisions. Rabbi Matondo had an early goal disallowed for offside, and a goal from Kemar Roofe was annulled due to what some considered a dubious foul by Cyriel Dessers on Gustaf Lagerbielke.
Who was the player of the match?
Liam Scales was named the player of the match. Making his Old Firm debut, the Celtic centre-back delivered an exceptional second-half performance, anchoring a makeshift defense.
How does this win impact Celtic’s position in the Scottish Premiership?
The victory pushes Celtic to the top of the Scottish Premiership table, with a four-point lead over their Old Firm rivals, Rangers.
Who was under more pressure, Rodgers or Beale, going into the match?
Both managers, Brendan Rodgers of Celtic and Michael Beale of Rangers, entered the match under considerable pressure. Rodgers was facing questions after a recent Viaplay Cup exit and a goalless draw against St Johnstone, while Beale was still smarting from a 5-1 Champions League loss to PSV.
How did Joe Hart contribute to Celtic’s win?
Goalkeeper Joe Hart made several key saves, particularly in the dying stages of the game, to ensure Celtic held on to their 1-0 lead.
What were the possession stats for both teams?
Both teams had equal possession, with each holding the ball 50% of the time during the match.
How did the Rangers players fare in terms of ratings?
The Rangers players received mostly low ratings, hovering around the low 4s, indicating a performance they’d likely prefer to forget.
What does this match mean for the future of Michael Beale?
The loss piles more pressure on Rangers’ manager Michael Beale, who now has just one win from six derbies against Celtic, and could face scrutiny regarding his job security.
More about Old Firm Victory
- Full Match Report
- Brendan Rodgers’ Post-Match Interview
- Kyogo Furuhashi’s Old Firm Stats
- Liam Scales’ Player of the Match Highlights
- Scottish Premiership Standings
- Michael Beale’s Career at Rangers
- Controversial Calls in the Old Firm Derby
- Joe Hart’s Key Saves
- Rangers’ Champions League Loss to PSV
- Celtic’s Recent Viaplay Cup Exit
- Player Ratings for Rangers and Celtic
- Old Firm Derby History and Significance
10 comments
Equal possession but look at those player ratings. Celtic’s got quality where it matters.
The Ibrox atmosphere was electric, like being at a rock concert. Shame the result didn’t match the hype for Rangers fans.
Beale needs to get his act together. One win in six derbies? seriously, how’s he still got a job?
Wow, what a match! Kyogo’s on fire, ain’t he? Six goals in five Old Firm games, that’s mad. Rodgers must be grinning ear to ear right now.
Those ref calls though! One dodgy decision can change the whole game. Matondo’s offside? C’mon, that’s debatable at best.
Joe Hart was the unsung hero, no doubt. Those late saves were clutch. Saved our bacon, for sure.
Rodgers finally stepping up when it matters. This should shut up some of the haters, especially after that Viaplay Cup disaster.
This match had more drama than a Hollywood movie. Directors should take notes for any future sports films, lol.
Those VAR reviews, man. Love it or hate it, technology’s changing the game. But still, it needs some serious debugging.
Can we talk about Liam Scales? Guy’s a rock in defense, especially for his debut. future’s looking good, I’d say.