Celtic 3-2 Rangers: Kyogo double helps Ange Postecoglou's side go 12 points clear

Celtic now look destined to retain the Scottish Premiership title after crushing Rangers' hopes with a thrilling derby victory.

Kyogo Furuhashi netted either side of James Tavernier's sumptuous free-kick at a raucous Celtic Park devoid of away supporters, before Jota rolled in the hosts' third.

Tavernier headed his 100th Rangers goal to set up a nervy finale, with the Rangers captain nodding inches wide moments later, but Celtic held on to go 12 points clear with seven games left.

With their vastly superior goal difference, it means a maximum of three more wins will ensure Celtic the trophy, while Rangers manager Michael Beale is left to lick his wounds after suffering the first league defeat of his tenure.

Both sides came into this combustible fixture in rampant form but missing totemic figures through injury. Celtic had to do without midfielder Reo Hatate, while the absence of Connor Goldson - who notched a double when Rangers last won at Celtic Park in October 2020 - meant a first start since July for John Souttar.

The Scotland international and fellow centre-back Ben Davies were both culpable of glaring second-half errors seized upon by Celtic to ultimately emerge triumphant.

Rangers knew this game was their last hope of reviving already slender title hopes and they set about their task with relish, putting Celtic's defence ill at ease in the opening skirmishes with a high press.

Controversy is never far from this derby and sure enough it reared its head when Alfredo Morelos poked in Borna Barisic's corner with a first-time finish, only to be penalised for a push on Alistair Johnston. The visitors were incensed, 60,000 home fans heaved a sigh of relief.

Celtic, having also had an opener disallowed when Kyogo was offside when finishing off a sumptuous Johnston pass, roused themselves and surged ahead.

Callum McGregor and Jota had tested Allan McGregor before Kyogo swivelled and lashed past the Rangers goalkeeper's grasp after being picked out by Matt O'Riley's cutback.

Rangers were rocking on their heels - Jota threatened a second with a swerving drive from distance that stung McGregor's palms - but went up the tunnel level thanks to an exquisite equaliser.

Tavernier's 25-yard free-kick was top drawer and arrowed into the top corner, kissing the bar on its way past the despairing dive of Joe Hart.

Rangers looked to keep up the momentum and Morelos was thwarted by Hart after a rare slip by the impressive Johnston, then had a header blocked and Todd Cantwell drilled wide.

But Beale's side were architects of their own downfall at the other end, and Celtic's second was a personal nightmare for Davies. Having cut out Jota's cross, the defender tried to keep the ball in play on the byeline but succeeded only in knocking it off Jota and into the path of Kyogo, who gobbled up the gift by smashing past McGregor from an acute angle.

Davies rallied by making a last-ditch block to prevent Kyogo pulling the trigger, but Celtic extended their lead with what proved to be the decisive goal. Jota nipped in to steal Souttar's blind passback to McGregor and roll the ball into the net to spark bedlam in the stands.

Tavernier popped up the back post to head in Borna Barisic's cross, but his landmark goal had a hollow ring as Rangers failed to find a leveller.

Celtic substitute Alexandro Bernabei ought to have calmed the home nerves when he burst through one on one, and there was one final scare when Barisic lined up a free-kick on the edge of Celtic's box but sent it too high with the last kick of a high-octane derby.

Player of the match - Kyogo Furuhashi

More to follow.

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart

2Johnston20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3Taylor

13Mooy42McGregor33O'Riley

17Neves Filipe8Furuhashi38Maeda

Substitutes

Rangers

Formation 4-2-3-1

1McGregor

2Tavernier16Souttar26Davies31Barisic

8Jack43Raskin

13Cantwell71Tillman14Kent

20Morelos

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 2.

Second Half ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 2.

Attempt missed. Borna Barisic (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Foul by Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic).

Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Tomoki Iwata (Celtic).

Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Lundstram.

Offside, Celtic. Alexandro Bernabei tries a through ball, but David Turnbull is caught offside.

Sead Haksabanovic (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Ryan Kent (Rangers).

Offside, Rangers. Nicolas Raskin tries a through ball, but Fashion Sakala is caught offside.

Foul by Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic).

John Souttar (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).

Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Rangers. Antonio-Mirko Colak replaces Alfredo Morelos.

Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Todd Cantwell.

Substitution, Rangers. John Lundstram replaces Ryan Jack.

Substitution, Celtic. Alexandro Bernabei replaces Daizen Maeda.

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Celtic

Squad number1Player nameHart

Squad number2Player nameJohnston

Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers

Squad number4Player nameStarfelt

Squad number3Player nameTaylor

Squad number13Player nameMooy

Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

Squad number33Player nameO'Riley

Squad number17Player nameJota

Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi

Squad number38Player nameMaeda

Squad number9Player nameHaksabanovic

Squad number14Player nameTurnbull

Squad number19Player nameOh Hyeon-Gyu

Squad number24Player nameIwata

Squad number25Player nameBernabei

Rangers

Squad number1Player nameMcGregor

Squad number2Player nameTavernier

Squad number16Player nameSouttar

Squad number26Player nameDavies

Squad number31Player nameBarisic

Squad number8Player nameJack

Squad number43Player nameRaskin

Squad number13Player nameCantwell

Squad number71Player nameTillman

Squad number14Player nameKent

Squad number20Player nameMorelos

Squad number4Player nameLundstram

Squad number9Player nameColak

Squad number23Player nameWright

Squad number30Player nameSakala

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