Rangers and Celtic play out thrilling 2-2 draw at Ibrox
In a breathless and chaotic Old Firm derby at Ibrox today, Rangers and Celtic played out a sensational 2-2 draw that ultimately served as a major boost for league leaders Hearts, reports BritPanorama.
The match unfolded as a classic tale of two halves, with Danny Röhl’s Rangers side commanding the opening period through the individual brilliance of Youssef Chermiti, only for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic to claw their way back with a dramatic second-half resurgence.
The hosts flew out of the blocks, taking the lead after just eight minutes in spectacular fashion. Andreas Skov Olsen delivered an inviting cross into the box, and Chermiti connected with a perfectly timed overhead kick that flew past Viljami Sinisalo. Rangers continued to exploit a disjointed Celtic backline, doubling their advantage in the 26th minute as Chermiti capitalised on a poor clearance from Dane Murray, showing great strength before sliding a low finish into the net.
At that stage, Celtic appeared physically and emotionally drained from their midweek European exploits. However, the visitors emerged for the second half with renewed aggression. They finally found their rhythm in the 56th minute when a slick passing sequence allowed Benjamin Nygren to pick out Kieran Tierney, who powered a header past Jack Butland to give the Hoops a lifeline. Celtic pushed relentlessly for an equaliser, while Rangers struggled to regain their earlier composure, increasingly forced into a desperate defensive stand.
The drama reached its peak in the final minutes when a VAR review in the 89th minute determined that Dujon Sterling had handled the ball in the box, awarding Celtic a late penalty. Reo Hatate stepped up to take the shot in the 91st minute, and while Butland produced two stunning saves to deny the initial attempt and the first rebound, Hatate eventually scrambled the ball home at the third attempt.
The final whistle triggered heated scenes on the pitch, but the shared spoils leave both Glasgow giants frustrated in their pursuit of the title.
In the end, both sides were left to ponder missed opportunities, a reminder of how closely contested the Old Firm truly is, as narratives shift and rivalries heat up.
