Match Report: Celtic secure dramatic extra-time win over Rangers | OneFootball

Celtic seize late initiative in Scottish League Cup epic

Celtic and Rangers rarely do half measures and Hampden witnessed a Scottish League Cup semi-final that swung like an old heavyweight bout. Momentum, misfortune, quality and chaos arrived in equal portions, and in the end the holders found a sturdier jaw. Celtic eventually prevailed 3-1 after extra time, booking a place in the final against St Mirren and maintaining their grip on domestic cup dominance.

Drama shifts early and often

The green-and-white started on the front foot, circulating possession briskly and driving Rangers back, a sharp contrast from the cautious stalemate of their previous derby. The first genuine flashpoint arrived when Nasser Djiga’s clearance cannoned off Nico Raskin and into the net, only for a razor-tight offside against Daizen Maeda to deny Celtic. That scare roused Rangers, yet the breakthrough came the other way when Johnny Kenny’s glancing header nestled inside the far post after 25 minutes, assisted by A. Engels.

Rangers’ hopes darkened when Thelo Aasgaard saw red for a high challenge that left stud marks on Anthony Ralston’s thigh. At 1-0 down and a man light, the tide looked set. Instead, Rangers flickered defiantly. They resisted, countered and found life in the chaos of a cup tie bristling with contentious edges.

Still, Celtic will know they flirted with disaster. Auston Trusty caught Jack Butland in the head as the Rangers keeper claimed a loose ball, prompting fury from blue shirts when only a booking followed. That let-off foreshadowed an even bigger one at the other end.

Late twist before Celtic pull clear

As the match stretched, Rangers’ substitutes brought energy. Liam Scales denied Djeidi Gassama brilliantly, yet fortune swung again when Gassama’s effort struck the falling Ralston’s arm. The penalty call drew groans, but James Tavernier stayed cold and slotted home on 81 minutes to level. Extra time beckoned, and both sides traded blows, James Forrest rattling the underside of the bar as tension escalated.

The champions then leaned on familiar steel. Callum McGregor surged forward and drove a fierce strike beyond Butland just three minutes into extra time, assisted by Trusty. It felt symbolic, a captain asserting authority in a fixture defined by thin margins. Teenage substitute Callum Osmand then sealed it with a sharp close-range finish in the 109th minute, Kieran Tierney supplying the pass, and the young striker marking his first goal with impeccable timing.

Old Firm stakes, new undercurrents

Martin O’Neill returned to this rivalry after nearly two decades and saw his Celtic blend youthful thrust with veteran anxiety, while Danny Rohl’s Rangers showed fight and flashes of progress despite defeat halting their attempts at sustained momentum. That matters in a season where both clubs feel in flux and pressure hovers over every decision, from line ups to long-term planning.

Cup ties often expose soft underbellies, yet here Celtic demonstrated depth and composure at decisive moments. Rangers can lament missed chances and disciplinary swings, but resilience alone was not enough. With European tests looming, both will need clarity and conviction, because nights like this underline how small the margins remain in Scottish football’s fiercest fixture.