Great fightback from the Hoops earns 2-2 draw | OneFootball

SPFL

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Ibrox

RANGERS…2

(Chermiti 8 & 26)

CELTIC…2

(Tierney 56, Hatate 90 +1)

Celtic have left Ibrox with a point after a spirited second-half performance from Martin O’Neill’s men and goals from Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate cancelled out the home side’s 2-0 lead from the first half. 

The home side started quickly and looked to put the Hoops under pressure early and, in the eighth minute, that early pressure paid off when Youssef Chermiti gave his side the lead with an overhead kick which left Viljami Sinisalo with no chance of making the save. 

It was almost 2-0 just moments later when a ball to the back post from Mikey Moore found Chermiti again, but this time the Rangers forward couldn’t find the target. 

The home side enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout the first half but Celtic looked to spring attacks of their own when the opportunities presented themselves, but some poor crossing meant that those chances came to nothing. 

With 25 minutes gone, Chermiti made it 2-0 from close range after flicking the ball beyond Julian Araujo and sending it beyond Viljami Sinisalo into the back of the net.

With half time approaching, Callum McGregor was booked for a foul on Mikey Moore who was looking to spring a counter-attack after a cross into the Rangers penalty area from a Celtic free-kick was cleared. 

The deficit at the break, and the way the first half had unfolded with Celtic unable to lay a glove on the home side, gave Martin O’Neill’s men a mountain to climb in the second period.

There were two changes at the break for Celtic, with Reo Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti coming on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu. 

Much like the first half, the second half began with the home side putting Celtic under pressure and Tuur Rommens found himself with a big chance at the back post, but he was unable to get any power behind his shot and Sinisalo made the save. 

A nice passage of passing play from Celtic resulted in a shooting opportunity for Benjamin Nygren from the edge of the box, but his effort rose high of the target.

That chance seemed to spark a bit of confidence within the Hoops, and they began to put the home side on the back foot. Jack Butland was called in to action for the first time in the match as he produced a diving save to deny Reo Hatate, who had fired a shot towards the bottom corner from the edge of the area. 

A few moments later and Celtic were back in the match after a fine headed finish from Kieran Tierney, who had been picked out by Benjamin Nygren, cut the deficit to just one goal. 

Daizen Maeda found himself with a big chance to equalise just after the hour mark when Sebastian Tounekti swung a good cross into the box, but the Japanese forward’s header was saved by Butland. 

Reo Hatate then had an opportunity to level the match but his powerful shot from the edge of the box went high over the bar. 

With 20 minutes remaining, Martin O’Neill made two further changes, with Kieran Tierney and Yang making way for Marcelo Saracchi and Luke McCowan. 

Luke McCowan went close to making it 2-2 shortly after coming on when a great piece of play from Sebastian Tounekti set the midfielder up with a chance at the back post, but Butland was able to make the save. 

Celtic’s final change of the afternoon came with five minutes of the 90 remaining when Benjamin Nygren was replaced by James Forrest whose impact was instant. His cross into the box almost resulted in a goal, but a handball from Dujon Sterling meant that the Hoops were awarded a penalty in the 90thminute. 

Reo Hatate stepped up and saw his effort from the spot saved, but from the rebound he was able to find the back of the net to make it 2-2, giving Celtic a point from a match which, at half time, looked beyond the Hoops

Fixtures

Rangers Vs. Celtic - Sun, Mar 1st 2026, 12:00 Final score: 2 - 2