Reo Hatate scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Celtic as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rangers in a pulsating Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
A Youssef Chermiti wonder goal put Rangers ahead early on as the hosts piled on the pressure before the striker took advantage of some slack Celtic defending to double their lead before the half-hour mark.
Celtic improved tremendously after half-time with Kieran Tierney’s header reducing the deficit and they were the better team in the second period.
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Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti scored an incredible overhead kick similar to the famous goal by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United
They got their reward in the dying minutes when Daizen Maeda’s header struck the hand of Dujon Sterling, with Hatate’s spot-kick and follow up initially saved by Jack Butland before the midfielder eventually bundled the ball into the net.
Both sides had watched Hearts extend their lead at the top the day before and knew a win on either side was vital to keep the pressure on the league leaders in an enthralling title race.
The game started at its usual frantic tempo but it was the home side who settled with more purpose. Nico Raskin forced Viljami Sinisalo into an early stop before being called back for offside but it was a sign of building Rangers pressure.
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Youssef Chermiti capitalises on Dane Murray’s error at the back to get his second goal in the Old Firm.
They did take the lead just eight minutes in with Andreas Skov Olsen standing his cross up to the centre of the box where Chermiti met it with a stunning overhead kick to fire the ball past Sinisalo.
The hosts had their tails up and nearly got a second soon after. Mikey Moore advanced with pace down the left before standing a ball up to the back post but Chermiti and Skov Olsen combined to knock the ball onto the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.
Celtic did try to work their way back into the game with Daizen Maeda’s cross evading Junior Adamu before Tierney called Butland into action with a dangerous low ball into the box.
Rangers looked dangerous every time they got into Celtic’s final third, however, and they doubled their lead after 26 minutes. Dane Murray made a mess of trying to clear Raskin’s clipped ball over the top, with a persistent Chermiti then robbing the ball from the path of Julian Araujo to flick the ball round the defender and finish past Sinisalo.
Celtic’s Kieran Tierney scores to make it 2-1 against Rangers
It nearly got even better for the hosts five minutes before half-time when Moore’s cross was met well by the towering Emmanuel Fernandez but his header flashed just wide.
Martin O’Neill made changes at half-time, introducing Sebastian Tounekti and Hatate in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu but it was Rangers who started the half on the front foot.
Skov Olsen saw an effort deflected wide before Tuur Rommens could have done better after connecting with a Moore cross at the back post but he sent his effort straight at Sinisalo.
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Kieran Tierney’s solid header gets Celtic a goal back early in the second half of the Old Firm
Celtic did start to gain a foothold in the second half shortly after that, however, getting more of the ball and frustrating the hosts. Benjamin Nygren had a chance but fired well over the bar from the edge of the box before Hatate forced Butland into a good save from distance.
They were rewarded for their pressure just before the hour mark when Rangers failed to clear their lines, allowing Nygren to deliver a cross into the box where Tierney was unmarked and he powered a header back across Butland and into the net.
Celtic’s Reo Hatate scores to make it 2-2 against Rangers
Celtic had a great chance to get back on level terms soon after when Maeda found some space in the box but he could only direct his header straight at Butland before Hatate fired over from the edge of the box.
The visitors really should have got their equaliser after 78 minutes following some brilliant build-up play, when Luke McCowan found himself in acres of space but his curling effort was smothered by Butland.
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Dujon Sterling’s handball gifts Celtic late penalty that Reo Hatate puts away to level the score in the Old Firm
Ibrox was nervy as the clock ticked down and Rangers fans thought they had witnessed another unbelievable Butland save from a Maeda header only for referee John Beaton to be called to the monitor with Sterling adjudged to have used his hand to deflect the Celtic forward’s chance.
The Rangers goalkeeper produced a brilliant stop to deny Hatate from the spot and then again on the follow up but he could not prevent the midfielder eventually bundling the ball into the net to help Celtic secure a last gasp point in a result that will leave Hearts and Motherwell fans thrilled.
