Nakamura 1-0Novo 1-1Venegoor of Hesselink 2-1Celtic lat show wins old firm derbyCeltic needed to win the third and penultimate Old Firm derby of the season – the first evening fixture in 8 years - to keep their slim hopes of winning a third successive SPL crown alive.
In one of the most dramatic Old Firm games in recent times, Celtic kept their season just about alive with a late, late winner.
Shunsuke Nakamura’s stunner gave Celtic a half-time lead but Rangers improved after the break and restored parity through Nacho Novo.
Nakamura might have scored his second were it not for the hand of Carlos Cuellar, who was dismissed. Scott McDonald (pictued) missed the subsequent penalty, but provided the winner for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in injury time.
Paul Hartley passed a late fitness test allowing Gordon Strachan to stick with the side that won 4-1 at Motherwell on Sunday.
Counterpart Walter Smith, meanwhile, allowed Steven Whittaker, impressive of late, to start the derby with Christian Dailly in midfield.
First Half
Rangers made a better start in the super-charged atmosphere and Christian Dailly nodded wide from an early corner.
Celtic couldn’t get going during the opening exchanges, with key man Aiden McGeady well-marshaled by Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Whittaker.
However, the home side had the first real chance of the game. Shunsuke Nakamura clipped a ball through for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. The big Dutchman beat the offside trap, but his first touch was heavy, allowing Allan McGregor to smother at his feet.
The tackling was typically full-on and Paul Hartley was first into the book when he caught Lee McCulloch, leaving the big midfielder writhing in agony.
Soon, passionate – perhaps desperate – Celtic were starting to dominate proceedings. Their pressure allowed them to rack up the corners – winning five in a row. From one, Gary Caldwell’s downward header had to be smartly cleared by the Gers rearguard.
Some fans may have rued the unconverted period of superiority, but the breakthrough was coming.
Gary Caldwell played a pass infield for Nakamura, who tamed the bobbling ball and unleashed a swerving 25-yard screamer past McGregor.
The Japanese is notorious for freezing against Rangers. Not tonight.
Thus, Rangers were struggling midway through the half and Steven Davis’ long-range effort was never going to trouble Artur Boruc.
The hosts continued to pin Rangers back, but the Blue wall held firm as the half wore on.
Jean-Claude Darcheville might have been Rangers’ villain when his loose infield pass was intercepted by Scott McDonald, who drove forward on the right and tried an audacious drive at McGregor’s near post from an angle. The goalie was able to beat it wide.
Rangers did have a decent chance on the break. Whittaker dispossessed Lee Naylor in the middle of the park and stormed forward before feeding Darcheville. The Frenchman, though, scewed his shot under pressure from Stephen McManus and his boot ended up behind the goal.
This was exactly was Celtic needed and Rangers would have to find something extra in the second period.
Second Half
Both teams made a change at the break. Mark Wilson came on for Lee Naylor at left-back, while Rangers' Kirk Broadfoot was hooked in favour of Nacho Novo.
Celtic picked up where they left off. They were spraying the passes around, but a good spell of possession ended with McDonald blasting over.
Rangers were losing the midfield battle, but would gradually drag themselves out of their hole and before long they were level.
Sub Novo was initially repelled, but Whittaker clipped the ball through again and Novo lashed an unstoppable drive across Boruc into the far corner.
The goal gave Rangers a massive boost. By the hour mark they were passing the ball with authority, even if the final ball was lacking.
Whittaker made a strong challenge on McGeady before releasing Barry Ferguson. The skipper, though, was held off strongly by Hartley and the ball shepherded out of play.
Celtic needed to respond. Nakamura floated a ball wide for Andreas Hinkel, who headed powerfully across goal only to see Vennegoor of Hesselink nod wide under pressure.
On 67 minutes, events started to unfold that can only happen in an Old Firm game.
Nakamura unleashed another drive from the right which was screaming into the net, but Carlos Cuellar took exception and clawed it away from under the bar. The stopper succeeding in preventing a goal, but saw red.
McDonald was left with the task of finishing the job, but McGregor touched his spot-kick onto the post. In the aftermath, the struggling ’keeper needed treatment and was eventually replaced by Neil Alexander.
It was time for three-up and, for the first time this season, Strachan sent on Georgios Samaras, keeping McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink on against the ten men.
Could Celtic find, from somewhere, the goal that would keep their season alive?
Yes. For the 12th time this season, Celtic found a last-gasp goal - this one in the 94th minute.
Caldwell again sent in a fine ball, McDonald nodded into the danger area and Vennegoor of Hesselink powered home a crucial header to send Celtic Park into raptures.
At full-time, it inevitably all kicked off. McManus and Novo were involved in a fight and a ruckus ensued before the players could be separated and led off the field. The disagreements, though, continued up the tunnel and further red cards have reportedly been issued to one player from each side.
Regardless, Celtic cut Rangers’ lead to a single point, but have played two games more. This was Walter Smith’s first Old Firm defeat since his return to the Ibrox hotseat.
The final Old Firm game of the season is 11 days away, again at Parkhead.
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