Celtic vs Rangers LIVE: Scottish League Cup final result and reaction as Old Firm derby settled on penalties
The Glasgow rivals battled for the first silverware of the season at Hampden Park
Daizen Maeda scored the decisive spot-kick as Celtic emerged 5-4 penalty shoot-out winners over Rangers after a Scottish League Cup final ended 3-3 after extra-time at Hampden Park.
Light Blues wide-man Nadim Baramin opened the scoring in the 41st minute after a mistake by Parkhead left-back Greg Taylor, who made amends in the 56th minute when his drive deflected in off Gers midfielder Nicolas Raskind, whose mistake cost Gers four minutes later as Maeda fired in a second for the Hoops.
The Ibrox side rallied and levelled in the 75th minute through Mohamed Diomande but when Nicolas Kuhn restored Celtic’s lead in the 87th minute the trophy looked Parkhead-bound, only for Gers substitute Danilo to level a minute later and take the game to extra-time.
After no more goals the game went to penalties and Hoops goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel gave Brendan Rodgers’ side the advantage by saving Ridvan Yilmaz’s effort before Maeda beat Jack Butland to take the trophy back to Parkhead.
Despite a valiant effort, it was another Celtic triumph and leaves Philippe Clement without a win in six Old Firm matches, while Celtic moved ahead on the historical trophy count - 119 to 118.
HT - Celtic 0-1 Rangers
Here’s the goal which separates the sides - so many loose passes from Celtic in this half.
HT - Celtic 0-1 Rangers
Balogun wins another loose ball and bursts forward past a few challenges - Rangers really are dominant in the middle of the park when it comes to getting transitions right and causing Celtic problems at the end of them.
This time Balogun’s cross is cleared and Cerny’s eventual shot is blocked...and there’s the whistle.
Half time and Rangers lead!
44’ - Celtic 0-1 Rangers
Yellow card for Jefte after an off-the-ball collision with Kuhn. Looks like he dragged him down perhaps as the winger ran past.
Celtic need a response then - Brendan Rodgers stalking about not looking happy. His team have only lost once all season in all competitions.
Three minutes added on in the first half.
GOAL! 41’ - Celtic 0-1 Rangers
And that’s exactly what happens a moment later! A loose ball in the middle, Bajrami wins possession and frees Igamane to run in on goal, he shoots low and Schmeichel saves - but only parried into the six-yard box once more, where Bajrami has continued his run and simply rolls it into the back of the net!
Rangers ahead, four minutes before the interval.
40’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
Approaching the half-time whistle and Celtic have probably just about edged the half for control, but not really for dangerous moments - just that one earlier Kuhn dribble has given Rangers much cause for concern.
The Gers have grown into the game and been snappier in the challenge, for sure.
36’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
Bajrami dribbles about 30 yards very quickly, taking the ball past two or three Celtic shirts up to the edge of the box...but with options left and right, he opts to shoot wildly, barely catching the ball properly and sending it dribbling wide of goal.
Trusty then almost gifts the ball inside his own penalty box and Carter-Vickers does really well to see off a challenge on the stretch - bit of a let-off for Celtic.
Moments later a foul by Hagi sees Trusty fall into Balogun and he’s hurt, needing some attention. Looks he’ll continue for now.
32’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
McGregor dribbles out, loses the ball and Igamane ends up blazing a shot straight into a crowd of defenders.
Rangers doing well to win back the ball high upfield a few times, but without the end pass thereafter. Celtic are faring better when they go direct rather than trying to dribble or play out of their own defensive zone.
28’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
Alastair Johnston heads the ball forward - ball at head height therefore - and is kicked somewhere around the stomach region by Igamane. Play on, says the referee. Celtic are awarded a corner when nobody else appears to think that’s the right decision, and the ball in is poor and cleared by the first man.
Kyogo tries to run in behind once more but Butland is off his line and gathers up cleanly.
A little scruffy in this stage of the game but Celtic definitely on top.
24’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
Drop of the shoulder and a turn away - Matate gets away from Balogun and is chopped down by the defender, just a few yards outside the box. Celtic try to take it quickly but the ref isn’t ready, as he’s still in the middle of booking Balogun.
In more considered fashion, Kuhn and Bernardo line up the dead ball...and the latter then blams it straight into the wall.
20’ - Celtic 0-0 Rangers
The game has come alive now. Jefte pushes forward down the left and as Johnston loses his footing he streaks past him into the area - but the cut-back is between two blue shirts and cleared by a green.
Balogun then manages to clear to prevent Maeda getting in behind him down the left, with Celtic happy to go direct very quickly if there’s space behind the defence at any point.
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