Celtic pull the longest straw in blistering Old Firm thanks to Kyogo


Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 3:28 PM• Noel Korteweg • Last update: 15:43

Celtic won on Saturday afternoon in a blistering Old Firm. The home team was 3-2 too strong for Rangers at Celtic Park. Kyogo Furuhashi was the big man with two goals. Jota took care of Celtic’s other goal. James Tavernier was responsible for both of Rangers’ goals, including a superb free-kick in the first half. The difference between leader Celtic and number two Rangers is now twelve points.

The home team thought they would take the lead after five minutes after a goal from Kyogo. The Japan international finished coolly, but was offside when he was played, so the goal did not go through. Celtic kept pushing and went looking for the opening goal, which almost fell through Jota. The Portuguese attacker tried with a shot in the far corner, but saw his effort well taken by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

In the twentieth minute it seemed to be Rangers that opened the scoring. Alfredo Morelos worked a corner kick from Borna Barisic from close range, but that goal was immediately rejected. The Colombian is said to have pushed his direct opponent Alistair Johnston in the back, although that decision seemed to be punished quite severely. The video referee on duty agreed with referee Kevin Clancy, leaving the score tied. Six minutes later, the home side took the lead. Matt O’Riley reached the back line, put it back on Kyogo and then saw the attacker turn around quickly and shoot hard: 1-0.

Rangers got into the game a bit better after that goal and came closer and closer to Joe Hart’s goal. For example, it was Malik Tillman, the mercenary from Bayern Munich, who saw his effort go just wide. A few minutes before the break, the Rangers supporters (who were at home since no away audience was allowed) were able to cheer. Tavernier curled a free kick beautifully from the bottom of the crossbar and put his team at the same level: 1-1. After the break, Celtic took the initiative again and that paid off after more than fifteen minutes. Ben Davies tried to clear a cross from Jota, but hit the ball completely wrong.

Then the defender, who still has a short past with Liverpool, headed the ball against Jota, who then landed at Kyogo’s feet. The goalscorer took full advantage of Davies’ unfortunate mistake and shot through McGregor’s legs: 2-1. Ten minutes later it was Jota himself who took advantage of another error in the Rangers rear. A back pass from John Souttar was much too short, after which the Portuguese was able to pass McGregor and slide in: 3-1.

The party then erupted at Celtic Park, but the home supporters saw how the visitors scored the tying goal five minutes later. Tavernier was the end station of a good cross from Barisic and therefore reduced the margin to one: 3-2. Both teams came close to a goal in the final phase, but it would not come again in the end. Celtic thus increases the lead over Rangers to twelve points, so that the title fight now seems to be decided.