Celtic narrowly edged <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/rangers-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Rangers</a> 2-1 on Saturday in the latest edition of the Old Firm. 



The heated match featured practically everything a neutral fan could ask for. There was a great pace to the game, stunning goals, and a dramatic ending that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. 



The bitter rivals entered the weekend sitting in the top two spots in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/scottish-premiership-tv-schedule/">Scottish Premiership</a>. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/celtic-tv-schedule/">Celtic</a> was five points ahead of Rangers atop the standings, but the Bhoys had previously lost two of their last four matches. The Gers, on the other hand, came into the game without a league loss since late September.



<h2>Celtic turned up the pressure after a fairly even start</h2>



The Celtic Park crowd helped set the stage with an electric atmosphere inside the arena. Saturday’s matchup then got off to a frenetic start, with both teams having good scoring opportunities in the opening ten minutes. 



The hosts had the first big chance of the match in the fifth minute, but Kyogo saw his shot saved by Jack Butland. Ross McCausland then saw his dangerous low cross into Celtic’s boss kicked away by Joe Hart two minutes later.



While the game started fairly even, Celtic eventually began to turn the screws as the game went on. Paulo Bernardo initially skimmed the side netting of the Rangers goal with a shot in the 23rd minute. 



However, the Portuguese midfielder put his team ahead just two minutes later with a wonderful strike. The hosts created the goal from a quality corner kick into the box. 



Bernardo collected the ball and struck a perfect shot beyond an outstretched Butland to give Celtic the lead. The goalscorer was then somewhat harshly booked for celebrating with the home fans.



Although they grabbed an early goal, Celtic was dealt a blow when Stephen Welsh had to be substituted with an apparent shoulder injury in the 35th minute. The club was already short at the central defender position with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> star Cameron Carter-Vickers missing the match. Maik Nawrocki entered the fray for the injured center back.



The visitors had multiple solid opportunities to grab a goal before halftime. McCausland, Todd Cantwell, and Cyriel Dessers all tested Hard in goal in the latter stages of the period. Nevertheless, the goalkeeper was up to the challenge and saved a series of shots ahead of the break.



<h2>Rangers push for late equalizer in dramatic second half</h2>



Celtic once again came out firing in the second half. Kyogo doubled his team’s lead with a glorious strike less than two minutes into the period. 



The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/japan-national-team-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Japan</a> international picked up possession near the box, shifted the ball to his left foot, and hit a curling shot into the top corner of the net. Butland only managed to get a slight touch on the ball with his fingertips.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="433" height="382" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231230_WST_480512_image-27_cd5c0710.webp&amp;width=433&amp;height=382" alt="" class="wp-image-480569" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/image-27.png 433w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/image-27-300x265.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px"></figure><figcaption>Furuhashi scored a stunning goal to make it 2-0</figcaption></figure>



Soon after the goal, Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley suffered what looked to be a broken nose. The Dane was caught by an unintentional flying arm by a Rangers player. Despite blood continuously pouring out of his nose, officials only made the midfielder change his jersey before continuing on.



Things went from bad to worse for Rangers in the 71st minute when Leon Balogun was sent off for bringing down Daizen Maeda while the attacker was free on goal. It was surprisingly the first red card in the Old Firm in the last 13 matchups. Celtic’s Bernardo was substituted just before the incident after he narrowly escaped a sending off as well.



Despite being a man down, Rangers grabbed a goal back in the 88th minute with a stunning strike by James Tavernier. The incredible goal came from a free kick that only just narrowly escaped Hart’s hands. The beautiful curling effort tipped off of the goalkeeper’s fingers and into the top corner of the net. It was the team’s first shot on target in the second half.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="445" height="465" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231230_WST_480512_image-26_2d9a64a4.webp&amp;width=445&amp;height=465" alt="" class="wp-image-480567" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/image-26.png 445w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/image-26-287x300.png 287w" sizes="(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px"></figure><figcaption>Brendan Rodgers has a great record in the Old Firm Derby</figcaption></figure>



Rangers pushed for a late equalizer deep into added time, but the visitors could not find another goal. 



The win by Celtic opens up their lead atop the table to a massive eight points. The league leaders, however, have played two extra top flight games compared to their rivals.



Photo credit: IMAGO / Sportimage.

Celtic narrowly tops Rangers in dramatic Old Firm Derby

Celtic edged rivals Rangers 2-1 on Saturday in the latest edition of the Old Firm. The win extends Celtic's lead atop the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic narrowly tops Rangers in dramatic Old Firm Derby - World Soccer Talk

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice to seal a 3-2 win that puts Celtic twelve points clear of Rangers in the <a href="https:\/\/spfl.co.uk/">Scottish Premiership</a> title race.



If <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/celtic-tv-schedule">Celtic’s</a> Kyogo Furuhashi wasn’t cemented in the club’s history as a legend before Saturday’s Old Firm derby, the Japanese international is now.&nbsp;



The title isn’t officially Celtics, but unofficially the Hoops will claim a 53 Scottish Premiership title in a few short weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Celtic Park was the fifth meeting in all competitions between the Old Firm rivals this season.



Celtic went into the game unbeaten against Rangers, with three wins and one draw. What fans witnessed was more of the same, as Ange Postecoglou’s team was simply unbeatable.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The match was typical of all <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/no-away-fans-allowed-at-old-firm-matches-this-season-20230318-WST-423684.html">Old Firm</a> derbies, as it started frantically with a full house urging on both teams.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nothing quite like the atmosphere of an Old Firm derby. 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/6mpf3BaD3h">pic.twitter.com/6mpf3BaD3h</a>— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Football__Tweet/status/1644666030352891905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h5>Both sides have goals ruled out</h5>



Celtic’s Furuhashi looked to have put the league leaders in front just moments after kick-off, but he was ruled offside after getting away from Rangers’ defense and slotting the ball into the back of the net.&nbsp;



Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos also had a goal ruled out in the 20th minute for a foul.&nbsp;



Furuhashi’s disappointment soon turned to joy.&nbsp;



In the 26th minute, Furuhashi slotted home past a diving Allan McGregor from 12 yards out, with the Rangers defense at sixes and sevens.



Rangers’ poor defending, misguided clearances, and bad passing were hallmarks of their defeat at Celtic Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Celtic dominated large stretches of matches, keeping 54.6% possession.&nbsp;



The Blues had chances, but for the most part, were on the defensive.&nbsp;



McGregor rebounded from conceding an early goal to keep Celtic from doubling their lead. His efforts proved vital just before halftime.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Rangers captain James Tavernier stepped up to take a free-kick from 25 yards out. The right-back coolly lifted the ball over Celtic’s wall before it crashed against the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.&nbsp;



Although Rangers were outplayed in the first half, they went into the break level at one goal apiece.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h5>Celtic get rewarded in second half</h5>



Rangers started the second half just as they had finished the first period. Morelos called Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart into action in the 50th minute, with Hoops scrambling to clear their lines.&nbsp;



Celtic settled in and took the lead once more just 13 minutes later. Rangers center-back John Souttar attempted to clear the ball with his head, only to misjudge the header, allowing Celtic’s Jota to nod it down to Furuhashi’s feet.



&nbsp;The Japanese international made no mistake, hitting it with his right foot past McGregor.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Jota, who had been fantastic running up and down the right wing, earned the rewards for his non-stop engine.



A poor pass by Rangers defender Ben Davies was intercepted by Jota, who rounded McGregor and scored from an acute angle. It was a goal Jota had no right to score. Yet, the Celtic winger’s industrious play was the catalyst for a fine goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Rangers didn’t go away despite trailing 3-1. However, with Ryan Kent, Malik Tillman, and Morelos providing very little in attack, it was up to Tavernier to produce a spark.&nbsp;



The right-back scored a second goal, this time getting his head to a Borna Barisic cross in the 89th minute.&nbsp;



Five minutes of stoppage time couldn’t produce an equalizer for Rangers, as Celtic took the spoils for a fifth Old Firm derby this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice to seal a 3-2 win that puts Celtic twelve points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race.

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Celtic narrowly tops Rangers in dramatic Old Firm Derby

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Celtic on verge of title after beating Rangers in Old Firm derby