Rangers enjoyed a second bout of raucous celebrations in four days as Hamza Igamane’s stunning late strike administered Celtic’s first Scottish Premiership home defeat since December 2023.
Barry Ferguson’s side had roared into a two-goal half-time lead after Nico Raskin’s early flicked header and Mohamed Diomande’s low shot.
However, as the effects of Thursday’s epic Europa League win over Fenerbahce began to tell, title-chasing Celtic hit back with Daizen Maeda’s towering header and and Reo Hatate’s slotted finish.
That set up a frantic finale, in which it seemed the league leaders had the momentum, but it was Rangers who found the decisive goal.
Igamane profited from Alistair Johnston’s slip to lash in an outrageous winner to give the Ibrox side their first victory at Celtic Park since 2020.
The success moves Rangers to within 13 points of their Glasgow rivals, who now cannot clinch the title until after the Premiership splits next month.
A superb, high-energy first-half performance from Rangers threatened to blow their hosts away, as they exploited the injury-enforced absences of Celtic captain Callum McGregor and centre-backs Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.
That meant Maik Nawrocki came in for his first start of the season, having had just 23 minutes of cup football this term.
And the recast defence took just four minutes to concede when Raskin got above Jeffrey Schlupp to flick in James Tavernier’s corner.
By the time Diomande, unmarked inside the box, found Kasper Schmeichel’s right-hand corner just before the break, Rangers could have been even further ahead.
Unusually edgy goalkeeper Schmeichel had earlier passed straight to Vaclav Cerny, only for the Czech international to delay shooting and waste the chance.
Two down at the interval, Celtic needed to respond positively and they did.
Maeda, shifted to the flank to accommodate the interval introduction of Adam Idah, leapt high above Tavernier to head in Jota’s cross just after the restart.
A well-worked team goal then drew Brendan Rodgers’ side level, when Luke McCowan set up Hatate to slip a finish across Jack Butland and into the net.
It looked like the reigning champions could go on and secure the comeback win that would leave them just two victories from retaining the title.
But instead it was Igamane who struck, condemning Celtic to a first domestic home defeat since the league loss to Hearts in December 2023.
Statement win for Rangers?
Rangers will feel they fully merited this win – their second derby triumph in a row after the January victory at Ibrox.
They’ll also feel it’s a statement victory at the home of the champions-elect after so many struggles on the domestic front.
Their energy-sapping encounter with Fenerbahce didn’t stop them from putting in a high-octane, high-pressing performance that made a normally unflappable Celtic side completely lose their cool in the first half.
Two up at half-time, it could well have been more.
To watch Celtic come back to level would have been a blow, but for Rangers to still have the desire and energy to go on and win the game means huge credit should go to the players and the interim management team.
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