Celtic 1-2 Rangers: Ibrox side come back to seal Scottish Cup final meeting with Hearts

Rangers will play Hearts within the final of the Scottish Cup on 21 May after coming from behind to beat Celtic in additional time of a relentless and pulsating Old Firm derby.

It sealed a powerful turnaround for the Ibrox side, who fell behind to Greg Taylor’s aim within the second half earlier than Scott Arfield equalised, and an opportunity at a primary home cup for 11 years.

The rousing comeback additionally ends Celtic’s hopes of a fifth home treble in six seasons, having already gained the League Cup this season and with a six-point lead within the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers’ efficiency in stopping their rivals from making it 19 straight wins at Scotland’s nationwide stadium was particularly spectacular given they had been taken to additional time on Thursday of their Europa League quarter-final in opposition to Braga.

With Hampden a cauldron of color and noise, it was no shock the sport was crammed with crunching tackles, errors, and nerve-shredding pressure.

When the smoke which billowed from the pre-match pyrotechnics lastly cleared, the motion began and by no means actually let up. Despite their European exploits, Rangers seemed contemporary as they shut down Celtic’s midfield and hampered their construct up.

Joe Aribo had two headed probabilities to give them a deserved lead, and John Lundstram’s curling effort cracked a publish as they got here shut to including the gloss to a disciplined, if frantic, first interval.

But Celtic, who’ve made Hampden their fortress within the final decade, got here back within the second half when Callum McGregor’s fast free fast caught out Rangers, and Taylor fired past Jon McLaughlin with the assistance of a deflection off Bassey.

On a day when Ange Postecoglou’s side seemed much less positive of themselves, they may have been 2-0 up and on track for the final had Cameron Carter-Vickers’ close-range shot cannoned off the bar.

But as a substitute Arfield swept residence the equaliser from James Tavernier’s cross with 12 minutes left, and from there it was Rangers who seemed the side with extra vitality and intent heading into additional time, dismissing any notion they might fade.

Tavernier and Fashion Sakala had been denied by Joe Hart in additional time, earlier than some fast considering by Glen Kamara launched Bassey down the left, and his low supply was prodded by Starfelt past his personal goalkeeper beneath stress from Sakala.

The explosion of noise within the Rangers finish was one thing to behold as their decade-long ache within the cups comes one other step nearer to ending after a recreation the place they’d to dig extremely deep to get the job performed.

Man of the match – John Lundstram

What did we study?

After back-to-back derby defeats in 2022, Rangers ceded the league lead to Celtic and there was a basic malaise about their home kind, in stark distinction to their Europa League run, which is able to proceed within the semi-finals in opposition to RB Leizpig.

But to get off the ground right here, particularly given they’d gained simply two of their final 11 video games at Hampden, with 120 minutes already within the legs from three days prior, was a massively spectacular feat.

All of the substitutes made an enormous contribution. Steven Davis introduced calm amid the storm and drained legs, Kamara’s fast considering arrange the aim, whereas Arfield scored and Sakala was the person who compelled the winner.

That was in distinction to Celtic, who appeared to endure when Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston got here on within the full-back positions.

Matt O’Riley did make a distinction, however general this was a reminder there may be work to do with their squad constructing. They additionally seemed in need of concepts when Rangers had been in a position to shut them down for lengthy spells.

They’ll want to shortly refocus with one other derby to come within the league to be sure they press residence their league benefit and finish the season with the league title.

What they mentioned

Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou: “I do not suppose any participant from both side left that pitch with out giving all the things they’d. Games like these are selected moments and sadly it did not occur for us.

“You’ve obtained to perceive that, take that disappointment and gas it for future endeavours. We’ve had lots of setbacks this yr, we have simply overcome them very well and actually shortly. We’ve obtained 5 video games now to turn into champions.”

Rangers supervisor Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “To play extra-time two instances in 4 days… the gamers had been magnificent. We had to dig deep and we did it as a crew. We’re proud that we’re within the final.

“It’s essential to be within the final however an important factor is to win the final. We have not gained something but. We need to obtain one thing and the idea is there that we will win the cup.”

What’s subsequent?

Celtic will look to re-affirm their benefit on the high of the Scottish Premiership subsequent Sunday after they face Ross County in Dingwall (14:30 BST).

Rangers are scheduled to be away to Motherwell earlier within the day (12:00), however have requested for that recreation to be introduced ahead to the Saturday.