Kyogo Furuhashi scored a late equalizer to help Celtic produce one of the close football scores of the weekend action in the Scottish Premiership. After Alfredo Morelos of Rangers made a terrible pass, Daizen Maeda scored in the fifth minute to give Ange Postecoglou’s team an early lead. Two minutes after the half, Ryan Kent equalized for Rangers, and two minutes later, Fashion Sakala was fouled by Carl Starfelt, resulting in a penalty that was scored by James Tavernier to give the Ibrox team the lead. With two minutes remaining in regulation, Kyogo pounced to score on Jota’s deflected cross and prevent Michael Beale from giving the Old Firm the victory.
Glen Kamara and Fashion Salaka replaced Alex Lowry and Ryan Jack as Beale made two changes in an effort to make it five victories in a row since taking over at Rangers. Aaron Mooy and Liel Abada were benched in favor of Alistair Johnston and James Forrest, who were both signed in January. Kent forced Joe Hart to make a stop for Rangers in the first minute, but minutes later Celtic seized the lead, putting the home crowd quiet.
In his own half, Morelos threw a careless pass, which Maeda intercepted and fired into an open goal. Then the visitors kept pressing, and Madea sent a dangerous low cross into the box. However, no one was there to capitalize on the opportunity, and Allan McGregor quickly reacted to tip Callum McGregor’s shot over the crossbar. Defender Greg Taylor, who was questionable due to injury before the game, was replaced by Josip Juranovic, forcing Celtic to make a change right away.
In the 27th minute, Hart came close to giving Rangers the equaliser. Kent received a cutback from Morelos after he dragged the ball back to him, but the Celtic goalkeeper recovered in time to deflect Kent’s attempt onto the post. As the Ibrox supporters grew more and more irate, Morelos headed Tavernier’s corner well over before looping a shot well past the post. The hosts trailed at halftime as the Colombian international fired another header narrowly wide.
However, two minutes after the restart, they were equal when Kent scored after being set up by Sakala. After Carl Starfelt tackled Sakala while slipping in the 52nd minute, referee John Beaton pointed to the spot for a penalty. Tavernier made no mistakes as he advanced Rangers with the 100th goal of his career. When Postecoglou substituted Liel Abada and Aaron Mooy for Forrest and Matt O’Riley at the hour mark after the game had turned in favor of the Light Blues, Celtic retaliated.
Ibrox held its breath as Beaton looked for a suspected handball in the Rangers penalty area after a Starfelt shot struck Goldson. However, play resumed as it did after a second potential Celtic penalty appeal when the ball again came off Goldson minutes later. The game continued into the heated closing moments. In the 84th minute, Rangers launched a counterattack, but a great backpedaling play by Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers made sure the football scores remained the same.
However, there would be more suspense as Celtic secured an equalizer in the 88th minute. Seven minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner as substitutes Mooy, Jota, and Georgios Giakoumakis all participated in an attack inside the Gers area. When the ball fell to Furuhashi, the Japan striker lifted his shot high past McGregor for a share of the spoils.
“The two goals that we [conceded] are awful goals to concede, especially so early in the game. We actually had a strong opening and conceded a goal. Then it took us ten to fifteen minutes to locate ourselves once more,” Rangers boss Michael Beale said.
For more football scores, click here
