Celtic secured a dramatic point at Ibrox thanks to a late equaliser, denying Rangers a crucial Old Firm victory in a pulsating 2-2 draw.
A thrilling Old Firm derby ended in a 2-2 stalemate at Ibrox, as Celtic snatched a point in the dying moments. The dramatic share of the spoils keeps the Premiership title race finely poised, with both teams showcasing resilience in a hard-fought contest.
This crucial Premiership clash saw Rangers and Celtic battling for supremacy at the top of the table. Both Glasgow giants entered the fixture in strong domestic form, setting the stage for a tense encounter. A victory for either side would have provided a significant psychological boost in the title chase.
Celtic began brightly, and their early pressure paid off in the 14th minute. Midfielder Callum McGregor surged forward, playing a neat one-two before guiding his shot past the diving Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland. The away support erupted as the Hoops took a valuable lead.
Stung by the opener, Rangers pushed for an immediate response. Forward Cyriel Dessers went close with a header, forcing a fine save from Celtic's Joe Hart midway through the half. The home side increased their intensity, dominating possession after the initial setback.
The home side’s persistence was rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time. A clever pass from Todd Cantwell found James Tavernier, who side-footed home from inside the box in the 45+2 minute. This vital equaliser sent Ibrox into a frenzy just before the whistle.
The equaliser ensured both teams entered the interval locked at 1-1, reflecting the evenly matched first 45 minutes. Both managers undoubtedly used the break to fine-tune tactics and encourage their players to seize control of the second half.
Rangers carried their momentum into the second period, taking the lead in the 58th minute. Striker Danilo showed impressive composure, slotting a low shot into the bottom corner after a swift counter-attack. The goal sparked renewed belief among the home faithful.
Facing a deficit, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers introduced fresh legs, bringing on pacey winger Daizen Maeda in the 65th minute. The Hoops pressed higher up the pitch, creating several half-chances around the Rangers penalty area as they searched for a leveller.
Just when Rangers thought they had secured a crucial victory, Celtic found an equaliser. In the 89th minute, substitute Kyogo Furuhashi reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box, prodding it past Butland to make it 2-2. The late goal silenced much of Ibrox.
The statistics reflected the evenly contested battle throughout the 90 minutes. Rangers finished with an expected goals (xG) of 1.8 from 14 shots (6 on target), while Celtic registered 1.6 xG from 12 shots (5 on target). Possession was split almost evenly, with Rangers holding a slight edge at 52%.
