Celtic moved inside touching distance of the Scottish Premiership title as Kyogo Furuhashi’s double impressed a dramatic 3-2 win towards Rangers in Saturday’s Old Firm derby.
Furuhashi has been Celtic’s catalyst for a lot of the marketing campaign and the Japan ahead was the important thing once more along with his staff’s opener in a frenetic conflict at Parkhead.
Rangers captain James Tavernier equalised with an outstanding free-kick earlier than dismal defending from the guests handed Celtic second half targets for Furuhashi and Jota.
Tavernier’s second took him to 100 targets for Rangers, however Celtic survived an anxious end to assert a 3rd victory over their bitter rivals this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s aspect sit 12 factors away from second positioned Rangers with seven video games left as they give the impression of being to retain the title.
They are on the verge of securing an eleventh title within the final 12 seasons and will but get pleasure from extra success at Rangers’ expense, with a Scottish Cup semi-final date set for April 30.
Celtic had received the newest Old Firm showdown within the Scottish League Cup last in February and at the moment are unbeaten in six successive league derbies.
There have been no Rangers followers allowed into Parkhead on account of security issues, however the ambiance generated by the 60,000 crowd was nonetheless at fever pitch by kick-off within the east finish of Glasgow.
Celtic thought they’d made a dream begin when Alastair Johnston’s lofted go reached Furuhashi, who poked via the legs of Allan McGregor, solely to see his celebrations curtailed by an accurate offside name.
Rangers have been denied in additional controversial circumstances when Alfredo Morelos stabbed in on the far submit from a nook, with Kevin Clancy disallowing the aim for the Colombian’s contact with Johnston because the pair jostled for the ball.
“It is completely embarrassing,” Kris Boyd mentioned in commentary for Sky Sports.
‘See on the finish of the day it’s a contact sport as James says. Alistair Johnston has a grip of Alfredo Morelos, Morelos has a grip of him as properly, then impulsively he simply decides to fall ahead as a result of he’s caught underneath the ball.
“That needs to be a aim. It is embarrassing.”
Alfredo Morelos of Rangers FC scores the staff’s first aim which was later disallowed after a VAR evaluate. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That proved an important second as Celtic broke the impasse within the twenty sixth minute. Matt O’Riley reduce his go again to the center of the penalty space, the place Furuhashi took a deft contact as he swivelled to plant a scientific end previous McGregor.
Against the run of play, Rangers drew degree on the stroke of half-time after O’Riley slid in to foul Malik Tillman.
Tavernier made O’Riley pay as he curled a elegant 25-yard free-kick previous Joe Hart by way of the underside of the crossbar, lowering Parkhead to shocked silence for the primary time all afternoon.
Hart plunged to his proper to disclaim Morelos after sloppy Celtic defending introduced a golden alternative to the Rangers striker straight after the interval.
Morelos was stopped by his personal team-mate from the ensuing nook when his goalbound shot was inadvertently blocked by Ryan Jack.
But simply as Rangers had seized the momentum, it was snatched away from them within the 62nd minute.
Michael Beale’s staff had solely themselves accountable as Ben Davies miscued a clearance in his personal six-yard field and tried to rescue the state of affairs with a panicked header that bounced off Jota for Furuhashi to fireplace house from close-range.
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic held on for the win. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The frenzied Celtic celebrations on the pitch and within the stands underlined the importance of Furuhashi’s twenty eighth aim in all competitions this season.
If the second aim was a present from Rangers, then Celtic’s third within the 73rd minute got here due to extra woeful defending.
John Souttar’s weak backpass was properly wanting McGregor, permitting Jota to nip in and slot into the empty web from an acute angle.
Rangers refused to give up and Tavernier acquired one again within the 79th minute, arriving on the far submit to satisfy Borna Barisic’s cross with a robust header that gave Hart no probability.
In a tense finale, Tavernier was inches away from rescuing Rangers with one other header, however this time the defender’s effort flashed large.
