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

Kyogo Furuhashi seized connected a Ben Davies mistake to nett his 2nd extremity and reconstruct Celtic's lead

Celtic present look destined to clasp the Scottish Premiership rubric aft crushing Rangers' hopes with a thrilling derby victory.

Tavernier headed his 100th Rangers extremity to acceptable up a nervy finale, with the Rangers skipper nodding inches wide moments later, but Celtic held connected to spell 12 points wide with 7 games left.

With their vastly superior extremity difference, it means a maximum of 3 much wins volition guarantee Celtic the trophy, portion Rangers manager Michael Beale is near to lick his wounds aft suffering the archetypal league decision of his tenure.

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Both sides came into this combustible fixture successful rampant signifier but missing totemic figures done injury. Celtic had to bash without midfielder Reo Hatate, portion the lack of Connor Goldson - who notched a treble erstwhile Rangers past won astatine Celtic Park successful October 2020 - meant a archetypal commencement since July for John Souttar.

The Scotland planetary and chap centre-back Ben Davies were some culpable of glaring second-half errors seized upon by Celtic to yet look triumphant.

Rangers knew this crippled was their past anticipation of reviving already slender rubric hopes and they acceptable astir their task with relish, putting Celtic's defence sick astatine easiness successful the opening skirmishes with a precocious press.

Controversy is ne'er acold from this derby and definite capable it reared its caput erstwhile Alfredo Morelos poked successful Borna Barisic's country with a first-time finish, lone to beryllium penalised for a propulsion connected Alistair Johnston. The visitors were incensed, 60,000 location fans heaved a suspiration of relief.

Celtic, having besides had an opener disallowed erstwhile Kyogo was offside erstwhile finishing disconnected a sumptuous Johnston pass, roused themselves and surged ahead.

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

Rangers were rocking connected their heels - Jota threatened a 2nd with a swerving thrust from region that stung McGregor's palms - but went up the passageway level acknowledgment to an exquisite equaliser.

Tavernier's 25-yard free-kick was apical drawer and arrowed into the apical corner, kissing the barroom connected its mode past the despairing dive of Joe Hart.

Rangers looked to support up the momentum and Morelos was thwarted by Hart aft a uncommon gaffe by the awesome Johnston, past had a header blocked and Todd Cantwell drilled wide.

But Beale's broadside were architects of their ain downfall astatine the different end, and Celtic's 2nd was a idiosyncratic nightmare for Davies. Having chopped retired Jota's cross, the defender tried to support the shot successful play connected the byeline but succeeded lone successful knocking it disconnected Jota and into the way of Kyogo, who gobbled up the acquisition by smashing past McGregor from an acute angle.

Davies rallied by making a last-ditch artifact to forestall Kyogo pulling the trigger, but Celtic extended their pb with what proved to beryllium the decisive goal. Jota nipped successful to bargain Souttar's unsighted passback to McGregor and rotation the shot into the nett to spark bedlam successful the stands.

Tavernier popped up the backmost station to caput successful Borna Barisic's cross, but his landmark extremity had a hollow ringing arsenic Rangers failed to find a leveller.

Celtic substitute Alexandro Bernabei ought to person calmed the location nerves erstwhile helium burst done 1 connected one, and determination was 1 last scare erstwhile Barisic lined up a free-kick connected the borderline of Celtic's container but sent it excessively precocious with the past footwear of a high-octane derby.

Player of the lucifer - Kyogo Furuhashi

Celtic's talisman again delivered connected the large occasion, taking his tally for the play to 28 goals and besides having a onslaught disallowed

More to follow.