Furuhashi Kyogo scores brace as Celtic punish error-prone Rangers in Old Firm derby win that all but seals Premiership
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Published 08/04/2023 at 13:37 GMT
Rangers' Scottish Premiership hopes are all but extinguished after a spectacular 3-2 Old Firm derby defeat leaves Celtic 12 points clear at the top. Furuhashi Kyogo was the hero for Celtic, scoring either side of an incredible James Tavernier free kick. The Rangers captain added another with a superb header, but individual errors undid his heroics.
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Celtic all but sealed a second consecutive Scottish Premiership title with a spectacular 3-2 Old Firm derby win over Rangers.
With a nine-point gap between the two sides at kick-off, anything but a Rangers victory was essentially a knockout blow to their title hopes.
After just six minutes Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi had the ball in the net but his attempt was ruled out for a clear offside.
15 minutes later it was Rangers' turn to have their celebrations cut short as Alfredo Morelos' close-range finish was ruled out for a foul on Alastair Johnson. Although initially awarded, VAR intervened to overrule the goal. This was a tighter decision and commentator Ally McCoist labelled it "embarrassing".
The first goal to actually stand came shortly afterwards as Kyogo found space in the Rangers box to spin and lace home a lovely finish after good work from Greg Taylor and Matt O'Reilly.
Rangers came close to an immediate response through Malik Tillman but Celtic were pouring forward and looking for a decisive second goal.
The visitors weathered the storm and, right on the stroke of half-time, got their equaliser.
Inevitably it was James Tavernier with an unstoppable free-kick. The Rangers captain got his 99th goal for the club, lasering his shot into the underside of the bar and into the net.
A defensive miscue gave Morelos a dangerous chance early in the second half, but Joe Hart was on his toes and tipped it around the post. From the ensuing corner Morelos went even closer, seeing his header blocked on the line.
Rangers were on the up, but with no fans permitted inside the ground, only the Celtic supporters' anger could be heard.
The pendulum soon swung back towards the hosts.
Kyogo missed an unmissable chance from close range, but was spared some embarrassment as the pass into the box was belatedly flagged for offside.
It was a rare flub from the striker, but he soon made up for it.
A sliced defensive clearance dropped in the box, and frozen Rangers defenders could only watch as Kyogo pounced to slide his finish beyond Allan McGregor.
Ben Davies, at fault for the goal, raced in to block Kyogo's hat-trick effort minutes later.
Rangers had been good with the ball but self-destructive without it, and that point was underlined when Jota made it three.
John Souttar had been an injury doubt before the match and may wish he had been ruled out after his horror back pas handed the Portuguese forward a huge chance.
Djota sealed the victory and, - virtually - the title, as he rounded the flat-footed McGregor with one touch and finishing with the next.
Tavernier scored his 100th Rangers goal with a far post header 12 minutes from time.
A minute later he put another headed chance just wide.
Five minutes from time Rangers broke forward with three attackers against two back-peddling Celtic defenders but Morelos took the wrong choice and the chance fizzled out.
With seconds remaining in stoppage time, Tavernier and Borna Barisic stood over a free kick right on the edge of the Celtic box. The home supporters held their collective breath, but Barisic's attempt flew over the bar to end the match.
Rangers will rue the missed chances and the incredible individual errors after an Old Firm derby they were certainly good enough to win.
The result leaves Celtic 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with seven matches to play.
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