Celtic come from behind twice to beat Rangers 3-2 in an Old Firm classic

The third Old Firm match of the season was theirs for the taking for Rangers.

It was a dream start for Rangers, but Celtic continued to show they’re still a class above in a thrilling five-goal affair for arguably the most entertaining Old Firm match in six years.

Josh Windass capitalized on the calamitous indecisiveness of Dedryck Boyata to give his side the lead in the third minute. Windass made a run in behind and the ball was played forward for him, Boyata had a chance to clear but got caught in a gray area. Windass didn’t.

He nicked the ball off Boyata, went one-on-one with Scott Bain and thundered the ball high and into the far post. Ibrox erupted and it was clear we were in for a classic.

Celtic equalized eight-minutes later, thanks to the man who had been the focal point of Celtic’s success going forward in both of the Old Firm matches before: Tom Rogic.

He picked up the ball with space to dribble into from about 30-yards out, got about five more yards forward, and lined up his sights as he curled the ball into the top left corner. Wes Foderingham never stood a chance.

Rangers didn’t fluster and let the moment get the better of them. They let the game settle, as did Celtic, and then got the lead back in minute-26.

Declan John, who had found success making overlapping runs as a fullback, made another and got to the byline this time.

He whipped in a cross that was untouched and bounced through the center of the box, the ball found its way to the late-surging run of Daniel Candeias, hit the ball into the ground and it bounced into the net. Rangers were back on top.

Celtic got on the front foot for the first time since the Rogic equalizer at the minute-38 mark.

They had a stretch of four consecutive corners, and the latter two were cleared nervously by the Gers. The pressure didn’t end there, as Celtic would pick up two more corners, and then a free kick at the beginning of stoppage time in the first half.

Rangers cleared the initial free-kick all the way to Scott Brown in the Celtic half. Brown picked it up, lifted his head and hit a long ball forward to Moussa Dembele who slipped in behind Bruno Alves who switched off for the first time in the game.

He picked a terrible time to do so as Dembele chipped the ball over Foderingham with what was roughly his second forward touch of the match. It was enough to give Celtic their second goal and brought them into the half on level terms.

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The first ten minutes of the second half were calm and collected, as both teams looked like they had shaken off the nerves.

This ended up being an illusion.

Alfredo Morelos looked to latch onto a long ball in minute 56, Marko Simunovic, who was running with him, caught him in the face with a high elbow.

It was a yellow card at the very least, but referee Willie Collum didn’t hesitate and issued a straight red card. Celtic were down to ten men for the final 30 minutes of their biggest match of the season.

Gers got their first chance with the extra man twelve minutes later.

Morelos received a through ball in behind Boyata, the angle he got wasn’t the best but he got the ball onto his preferred right foot and only Bain to beat.

The script was set, the writing was on the wall, Morelos had the golden opportunity to repay Rangers for signing him to a long-term deal earlier in the week by giving them the lead in the Old Firm and giving them a shot at their first Scottish title since their liquidation five years ago.

Yet, he failed, hitting the ball right at Bain and then knocking the ball out for a goal kick when he tried to control the rebound.

It got worse for Rangers.

Celtic took the lead.

Osdonne Edouard — who had only just subbed on — made an apt run beyond the opposition defense, taking advantage of a misaligned back four. He dribbled into the Gers box, cut inside on his right foot, and slotted the ball into the far post.

Out of absolutely nowhere, Celtic took the lead and Brendan Rodgers sprinted down the touchline to celebrate the goal that may very well have given them their seventh straight title.

Celtic controlled the game on the back foot for the next 20-minutes. They were defending but it’d be flattering to say Rangers were attacking as they failed to threaten the Hoops.

Then, in minute-88, Rangers looked destined to equalize.

Windass made a run into the box, picked up the through ball and struck it at Bain as hard as he could with his right foot. Bain saved, but there was too much power for him to direct his save away from danger.

The ball came right to Morelos who only had to tap into an open net from two-yards out.

It was harder to miss than to score, but he managed to pull off the former. The Colombian forward pushed the ball off the post, and it rebounded back in to the hands of Bain.

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Unbelievably, Celtic still lead. For the second Old Firm match running, Morelos’s lack of a killer instinct was Rangers undoing.

The Gers never even had another sniff at goal. Celtic finished on top, 3-2, and Graeme Murty suffered his first Old Firm defeat as Rangers manager.

Celtic are now nine-points clear, with a game in hand, and practically guaranteed the Scottish Premiership title.

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The Old Firm match served as a reminder that although Rangers are closing the gap, Celtic are still far and away the kings of Scottish football.