Rangers' Rabbi Matondo celebrates scoring Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Champions Celtic coughed up two leads as rousing Rangers snatched an improbable 3-3 draw at Ibrox and Adam Idah was denied a late winner by Rabbi Mantondo's magical leveller. The Irishman thought he'd won it in the 88th minute after firing through Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland 71 seconds after Abdallah Sima's deflected effort brought Rangers level in a game they looked out for the count in at half time. But Matondo had other ideas to leave Celtic on the floor. It was a game of tension and drama from the off. Daizen Maeda scored within 60 seconds as his deflection on James Tavernier's clearance flew past Jack Butland. Matt O'Riley's ice-cool penalty made it 2-0. Rangers then pulled one back from the spot as James Tavernier converted a fiercely-debated penalty award. All the madness of the first 87 minutes paled in comparison to the epic finish which now sees the champions remain one clear with the Ibrox side retaining a game in hand against Dundee. Read More Related Articles Rangers 3 Celtic 3 LIVE as honours shared in mad Old Firm derby Read More Related Articles Celtic fans spot team 'leak' in pre Rangers battle cry as every diehard senses the same thing The one benefit of conceding early is it allows for plenty of time to recover, however, nothing was coming easy for the hosts and they had to wait until the 24th minute for their golden chance to present itself. Rangers have been critiqued for their pedestrian set plays but Connor Goldson should have found the net from a tantalising corner. However, it hit shoulder rather than head. But the champions bared their teeth and a deluge of chances followed. Maeda misfired, Hatate was inches wide and O'Riley was spectacularly denied by an overworked Butland. But the Dane's revenge was prompt as he popped a panenka over the
England hopeful – with Gareth Southgate watching on – after Beaton was sent to the monitor to award a penalty for a clear handball under the current directive on Goldson. Festering anger became full-blown outrage as Rangers couldn't lay a glove on their fierce foes with Silva - in between a series of histrionics - fluffed his lines twice as Hart produced a stunning save. The half-time boos rained down but little did the natives know the real drama hadn't even started. O'Riley celebrates his goal (Image: SNS Group) Rangers were seeking a lifeline and one duly arrived when Beaton – after a lengthy VAR check – changed Silva's yellow card for simulation to a penalty on Alistair Johnston after being sent to the monitor by Nick Walsh. And moments later Rangers thought they were level when Cyriel Dessers turned a stramash in the Celtic box. Cue bedlam but the mania was tamed when Beaton struck off the goal for a foul in the build-up on Tomoki Iwata. Bonkers, utterly bonkers fare was being served up as long balls – from both teams – became the default approach as Rangers aimed to squeeze the game and Celtic tried to get out. Rodgers turned to Callum McGregor in a bid to wrestle back control. Mistakes became the default setting for both teams who with nerves taking hold. But mania took hold with Sima, Idah and Matondo all thought they were the hero. Dessers was inches away from winning it for the hosts. Draws are never normally this good and a title race for the ages rolls on with more nerve-shredding tension set to follow. VAR drama explodes Referee Beaton must have breathed a sigh of relief at the interval as Celtic's dominance removed his role as star attraction. But the whistler - weeks removed from Rodgers' "incompetence" blast for his VAR calls in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts – was launched back into the spotlight during a series of second half flashpoints. The Silva penalty award will be a talker for weeks to come and the full stadium thought he awarded Dessers' strike as an equaliser due to the hand signal used. The grade one official reportedly graded favourably for his VAR work at Tynecastle but the Silva call won't earn him top marks in the eyes of those who follow Celtic. Turbulence ensues It's a derby which brings with it a bulging list of cliches, a set of directives you must heed to flourish, but Rangers' misfiring start was akin to burning the how to guide in a fixture they have come up short in when it matters most in recent times. Philippe Clement's best laid plans were left blowing in the wind within a minute as the hooley within Ibrox turbo-charged Maeda's block on Tavernier past a helpless Butland. The home fans - full of verve and swagger moments earlier – were rendered into a state of astonishment. Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers exchanges words with Rangers Manager Phillipe Clement In multiple forms. The ferocious wind was a new spin for this classic fixture as the champions were seeing the ball travel at speed while Rangers' passes were being held up – an apt metaphor for how the game unfolded. And there was a storm cloud gathering in the stands with home fans left bereft with the Celtic dominance on display. In the eyes of the home fans this was the day to go from pretenders to champions in waiting. And while the second half was full of drama, there's no doubt there's a creativity void which is needing filled in the summer. Utter Dess-pair Rangers boss Clement is no wallflower in the dugout, but a heady mix of anger and despair erupted and misfiring Dessers was his victim. He was scolded for not being on Carter-Vickers to provide an aerial challenge, however, that one error appeared a faux-pas too many for a player who has come up short in multiple facets this season. The Nigeria international's goals have masked glaring deficiencies when leading the line. Celtic the Reo deal The mercurial talent of Hatate had almost reached mythical status during his absence but his impact, alongside the brilliant O'Riley, was a reminder of the depth which the champions boast in the heart of the midfield. Yes, the
Japan international doesn't get everyone of his high-risk passes right, of course, but his determination to push the boundaries was backed up. He was utterly spent by the time McGregor replaced him in the 65th minute. But what a rocking return to form. South Bank Show England manager Southgate might have watched Rangers come under a storm in the first half, however, Butland stood up to the Celtic downpour. His stunning save to deny O'Riley will have caught the eye of the Three Lions boss as the door opens for his inclusion in the Euro 2024 squad. The 31-year-old – as Record Sport revealed – earned a visit from a man who appears on the verge to breathe new life into Butland's comeback from forgotten man to a vital member of this Rangers team. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
Facebook Twitter More On Celtic FC Rangers FC Scottish Premiership Kyogo Furuhashi Daizen Maeda James Tavernier Connor Goldson Brendan Rodgers Philippe Clement Rabbi Matondo