If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Celtic vs. Rangers score: Scottish League Cup semifinal result as O'Neill's men battle past 10-man Gers

Dom Farrell

•
Celtic vs. Rangers score: Scottish League Cup semifinal result as O'Neill's men battle past 10-man Gers image

Martin O'Neill returned to the Old Firm maelstrom after a two-decade absence as Celtic edged past 10-man Rangers to book a place in the Scottish League Cup final.

O'Neill was appointed as interim manager following Brendan Rodgers' abrupt resignation at the start of the week and got back in the saddle with a 4-0 midweek win against Falkirk.

Johnny Kenny's fine first-half header at Hampden Park gave Celtic a deserved lead and Rangers were left with a mountain to climb in the semifinal when Thelo Aasgaard was sent off for an x-rated lunge on Anthony Ralston.

But Danny Rohl's depleted side battled back after the break and, when a tumbling Ralston handled Djeidi Gassama's shot, James Tavernier converted from the penalty spot.

Those exertions ultimately caught up with Rangers during the additional period, as Celtic captain Callum McGregor fired a strike through Jack Butland's best efforts and teenage substitute Callum Osmand scored his first senior goal to book a place in the final against St Mirren.

JUMP TO: Highlights and key events | Where to watch | Head to head

Celtic vs. Rangers score

 2nd Half (ET)Goalscorers
Celtic3Kenny 25', McGregor 93', Osmand 109'
Rangers1Tavernier (p) 81'

Starting lineups:

Celtic (4-2-3-1 right to left) Schmeichel (GK) — Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi — Engels, McGregor — Maeda, Nygren, Tounekti — Kenny

Rangers (3-4-2-1, right to left):  Butland (GK) — Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius — Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma — Danilo, Aasgaard — Chermiti

Follow AllSportsPeople on WhatsApp

Celtic vs. Rangers highlights, key events

Fulltime

This time last week, Martin O'Neill was happily retired. Slightly different pace of life for him this weekend, but I'm sure he wouldn't change it for the world. Celtic are through to the final after almost 90 minutes against 10-man Rangers, who look predictably shattered.

109 mins: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Callum Osmand!!!!

A tale of persistence and what a moment for the teenager, who has surely sealed Old Firm victory and a place in the League Cup final. Tierney drilled across goal and Osmand was on hand to finish from close range.

Halftime (ET)

A flurry of activity around the Rangers goal before the break as Celtic seek to put this one to bed. Osmand brings a good save out of Butland before Hatate has penalty appeals waved away.

93 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Callum McGregor!!!!

The Celtic skipper restores his team's advantage with rasping strike. However, Jack Butland will definitely want to have done better with that.

Fulltime

We're heading into an additional 30 minutes. Something that did not seem at all plausible when Rangers went in at the break a goal and a man down.

90+3 mins: Another huge chance goes begging for Celtic as Harate blazes over from near the penalty spot.

85 mins: Huge miss from Celtic!  James Forrest plays in Callum Osmand, who can see the headlines his first Celtic goal would yield. The shot is tame, though, and straight at Butland.

81 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! James Tavernier

Tavernier makes no mistake. The 10 men are level!

78 mins: PENALTY TO RANGERS!

A falling Ralston blocks Gassama's shot with his arm and the referee points to the spot.

64 mins: Fabulous save from Butland to keep Rangers in it. The former England goalkeeper shows superb reflexes to get down and stop Nygren's header. Ralston's follow-up is straight at the Rangers No. 1.

Halftime

Martin O'Neill right back in the Old Firm saddle. What's all the fuss about? Rangers wandered through a half of self-sabotage there, from which there really should be no coming back.

38 mins: RED CARD! Thelo Aasgaard!!!!!

Oh goodness me, what are you doing? Aasgaard goes in studs first on Ralston and catches him, well, in about the most painful place a man can imagine being walloped with a studded boot. Just an outrageous headloss, an obvious red card and Rangers have a mountain to climb.

25 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Johnny Kenny!!!!!

Rangers do not make the most of their let off as Kenny gives Celtic the lead with a superb header at the near post from Engels' corner. A few moments earlier, Kenny was on the end of a robust derby day challenge from Cornelius. Apparently he's just fine.

21 mins: NO GOAL! VAR OFFSIDE! 

Replays show that Maeda was fractionally offside in the build-up. That's both a huge let-off for Rangers and a huge blow for fans of comedy viral football moments.

19 mins: GOAL! CALAMITY FOR RANGERS!

Oh dear, oh dear. Nasser Djiga clatters a clearance his team-mate Nico Raskin and it loops into the Rangers net. Oh, hang on, there might be a reprieve.

Kickoff: 1st Half

The 448th Old Firm game is underway. Who will claim the bragging rights and join St Mirren in the League Cup final?

Celtic vs. Rangers lineups, team news

Celtic are dealing with a few headaches on the injury front. Alistair Johnston's hamstring issue flared up again during the clash with Sturm Graz, ruling him out of contention.

Long-term absentees Cameron Carter-Vickers  and Jota  remain sidelined, the former recovering from Achilles surgery and the latter still rehabilitating from a serious ACL injury.

There is, however, some good news for the Hoops. Daizen Maeda returns to the starting lineup, while Kieran Tierney  is among the substitutes.

Celtic starting XI (4-2-3-1 right to left) Schmeichel (GK) — Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi — Engels, McGregor — Maeda, Nygren, Tounekti — Kenny

Celtic subs: Sinisalo, Yang, McCowan, Osmond, Hatate, Murray, Balikwisha, Forrest, Tierney.

Rohl has made a smooth start at Ibrox, implementing a back-three system that's brought both balance and belief to his side, and he's expected to stick with the same setup here.

The Light Blues head into the clash with a near full-strength squad, with only Dujon Sterling and Rabbi Matondo  unavailable. 

Danilo's  early exit against Hibernian was purely precautionary, according to Rohl, meaning he should be ready to lead the line here.

Rangers starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left):  Butland (GK) — Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius — Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma — Danilo, Aasgaard — Chermiti

Rangers subs: Kelly, Aarons, Fernandez, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

Celtic vs. Rangers stats, head to head

These teams met 447 times in all competitions, and yet, there is only one win to separate them.

Rangers winsDrawsCeltic wins
171106170
Biggest win:
5-0 (September, 1893)		 Biggest win:
7-1 (October, 1957)

MORE: All-time trophies, games won between Old Firm rivals

Celtic vs. Rangers live stream, TV channel

RegionTVStreaming
USACBS Sports NetworkFubo, Paramount+, 
Canada——
UKPremier Sports 1Premier Sports Player
AustraliabeIN Sports 2beIN Sports Connect
India——

Staff Writer