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7th April 2024
02:15pm BST
In the opening stages, Joe Hart smashed the ball into Rangers’ half. The ball bounced favourably in between the home side’s defence. Then as the Rangers’ defender, James Tavenier, attempted to clip the ball clear of danger it rebounded off the onrushing Daizen Maeda to hand the Hoops an early lead at their arch-rivals.
The away side doubled their lead from the penalty spot on 34 minutes when Matt O’Riley finished cooly from 12 yards. Despite Celtic’s initial dominance the home side fought back. On 54 minutes Tavernier was the hero as he slammed a penalty into the top corner to give Rangers a lifeline. The drama did not stop there, the league leaders thought they were level two minutes later through Cyriel Dessers only to see the goal chalked off by VAR.
The atmosphere began to build around Ibrox with Rangers' fans sensing an opportunity to get back into the game.
They had their leveller just four minutes from time when Callum McGregor lost possession allowing Rangers to attack. Rabbi Matondo initially shot before Abdallah Sima smashed home with the help of a deflection off Liam Scales.
Celtic did not give, they equalised 2 minutes later through Adam Idah, whose fizzing shot crept underneath Jack Butland.
The away side thought they had snatched all three points but once again, Rangers had the final say when Matondo cut inside unleashing a curling shot that nestled into the far corner sending Ibrox into chaos.
After the final whistle emotions boiled over, with Todd Cantwell and McGregor coming to blows before their teammates intervened. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd described the match as 'one for the neutrals.'
When speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Rangers were all over the place. Clement was able to get his team in at half-time and make a change that had a huge impact on the game.
Celtic should have been out of sight, but Clement's side have been able to grind out results and they have done that today. For the neutral, it was an unbelievable game of football."
The draw sees Celtic retain their one-point lead over Rangers in the standings. This title race will surely go to the wire.
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