Celtic v Rangers live: Chaotic Scottish League Cup semi-final decided in extra-time | OneFootball

Callum Osmand sent Celtic through to the Scottish League Cup final, to be played against St Mirren (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Celtic booked their place in the Scottish League Cup final with a dramatic 3-1 win over Rangers courtesy of goals from Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand.

Celtic started the brighter of the two sides and had a freak own goal from Nico Raskin ruled out for offside in the build-up early on.

That was no matter though as Celtic soon had the lead anyway, with Kenny diverting a lovely near-post header past Jack Butland for the lead, and it got worse for Danny Rohl’s side as Thelo Aasgaard was given a straight red for a high challenge on Anthony Ralston.

Rohl’s side grew into the game in the second half though, and got their reward late on when Ralston’s arm blocked Djeidi Gassama’s goal-bound effort and James Tavernier converted from the spot to take the game to extra-time.

It was always going to be a tough test for the 10 men of Rangers as the game dragged on, with Callum McGregor beating Butland from distance to regain the lead, and though both sides missed golden chances, Celtic wrapped it up as teenager Callum Osmand tapped in Kieran Tierney’s cross to take his side into the League Cup final.

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Callum Osmand settles epic League Cup semi-final as Celtic beat Rangers in extra time

Callum McGregor and substitute Callum Osmand scored in extra-time as Celtic emerged victors in an epic Scottish League Cup semi-final against 10-man Rangers at Hampden Park.

With former Hoops boss Martin O'Neill back in the dugout as interim manager after taking over from Brendan Rodgers last Monday - along with Shaun Maloney - Celtic took the lead through Johnny Kenny after 25 minutes and then Gers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard was shown a straight red card by referee Nick Walsh for a reckless challenge on Anthony Ralston.

The Ibrox side, with new head coach Danny Rohl taking charge of his first Old Firm game, fought back in the second half with captain James Tavernier levelling from the spot in the 81st minute to take the game to extra-time.

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Chris Wilson2 November 2025 18:15

Tavernier reacts

“We put a lot of effort into the game. With 10 men we knew that we’d have to dig deep. Even coming in at half-time we felt we could get ourselves back in the game,” says Rangers captain James Tavernier.

“We tried to limit chances, we get the penalty, get ourselves back into it, rode the waves of attack

“In extra-time we believed that we could win the game, but we just lacked that clinical edge in both boxes today. We created good chances, and we weren’t clinical enough.

“We need to be a little bit more streetwise as well, but no excuses, we fell short, but [there are] positives.

“He’s said with Thelo’s [red card], it’s the force of how he’s gone into the challenge, he’s not really seen Ralston come for the ball, but with Jack [Butland] diving on the floor, he’s already got the ball and he gets kicked in the head, no matter what the intent is, it’s still intent, and you can’t kick a goalkeeper in the head,” he says on the potential red for Trusty.

“It’s disappointing but it’s up to us to react to moments, I thought we reacted quite well, but it’s the small margins in these games,” he adds.

More from O'Neill

“I’ve come in, we’ve got a couple of young players and serial winners in there, and the backroom staff for me were terrific,” adds O’Neill, saying that he didn’t enjoy the game “for one minute”.

“If we had not won the game and gone to penalties, he might have been on the treatment table,” he jokes regarding Osmond’s missed chance before scoring.

“He’s sharp, he’s got plenty of confidence!” he adds.

“I don’t even know when the final is,” he jokes when asked whether he might be in the role then.

“I think the club will probably be making inroad into getting someone in.

“Today, no,” he replies when asked whether he might stay!

Chris Wilson2 November 2025 17:25

O'Neill: 'Delighted to have won'

Interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill is the latest to speak to Premier Sports, and he

“I was 73 on Monday, I’m 94 now,” he jokes.

“Delighted to have won the game, thought we played splendidly when 11 v 11. Rangers had a good spell 10 v 11 where they controlled the game for a while, but we missed some great chances and if we had taken them...well [anyway], we won, and that was it,” he sighs in relief.

“It was end-to-end, but there was part of me that enjoyed that. But listen, it’s the way they go, and sometimes when I thought we’d have a break, Kasper [Schmeichel] tosses it out!”

Chris Wilson2 November 2025 17:20

Osmand: 'No words to describe today'

Goalscorer Callum Osmand says that “there are no words” to describe the feeling today.

“It’s one of those moments that just don’t happen! I’m so grateful, it’s an amazing feeling, there’s nothing better.

“You get those points, but they build you as a player, those moments where I’m not in the squad, it’s painful, but they create you as a player and prepared me for these moments, and I just have to take it, so really happy.

On O’Neill, he says: “From day one he spoke to me, asaid he thinks really highly of me, and that gives you the boost you need. He’s given me the confidence, the trust, that’s all you need.

“It only takes one person to push you on and hopefully this is just the start for me, but I’ve got to keep pushing on.

“Like I said, no words to describe today, there’s nothing that can top this other than scoring in the final!” he adds.

McGregor reacts

Celtic captain Callum McGregor calls the result “huge” as he says he’s “really proud” after “a difficult week”.

“From me, a massive thank you to the players,” he adds.

“I found myself in a bit of space and just hit it, if you don’t shoot you don’t score,” he explains on the goal.

“Once we got the goal we settled ourselves and played, and Osmand got the [final] goal in the end.

“We’re in another final and we have to earn the right to play when we get there as well, so it’s nit job done by any stretch,” he adds.