Rangers fell agonisingly short in the Premier Sports Cup final, losing to Celtic in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hampden Park.
Philippe Clement’s side showed they could compete with their Old Firm rivals across 120 minutes, delivering a spirited performance that will provide some encouragement despite the bitter ending.
The Gers led at half-time through Nedim Bajrami, who reacted quickly to slot home a rebound from Hamza Igamane’s saved effort.
Celtic turned the game on its head to lead 2-1, but Mohamed Diomande equalised with a composed finish inside the box.
Nicolas Kuhn appeared to have snatched the trophy for Rangers with a late strike in the 87th minute, but Celtic’s Danilo responded even later, heading in to force extra time.
The match went to penalties, and the decisive moment came when Ridvan Yilmaz missed his kick, allowing Daizen Maeda to convert and secure the win for Celtic.
Controversy Over Penalty Decision
The final was not without controversy, as Rangers felt they were denied a clear penalty during regular time. Vaclav Cerny appeared to be wrestled to the ground by Liam Scales inside the penalty area.
Referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, which James Tavernier sent over. However, replays showed Scales was inside the area when he grabbed Cerny’s jersey.
Former referee Bobby Madden criticised the failure of VAR to intervene. Sharing an image of the incident, Madden said:
“This is 100 per cent a penalty kick. It doesn’t matter when the holding started, when it ended or what direction the players are moving.
“This is clear evidence of holding within the penalty area, and I’m amazed this hasn’t been identified by VAR.
“Difficult live, but that’s why VAR is there.”
Despite the heartbreak, Rangers can take plenty of positives from their performance. Clement’s men stood toe-to-toe with Celtic and proved they are capable of competing in the biggest matches.
While defeat in a cup final is always tough to take, the team showed resilience and quality that could bode well for the rest of the campaign.
The focus now shifts to league fixtures, where Rangers will look to build on this performance in their pursuit of domestic success.
