Celtic triumphed over their fierce rivals, Rangers, in the Scottish League Cup final, winning 5-4 on penalties after an exhilarating 3-3 draw following extra time at Hampden Park. The final, held on Sunday, drew thousands of passionate fans, underscoring the historic rivalry between these two clubs.
The match got off to a dramatic start, with Rangers taking the lead just before halftime. Nedim Bajrami capitalized on a loose backpass from Celtic's Greg Taylor, slotting the ball home after his initial effort was parried away by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. That goal sent Rangers fans erupting with joy and added pressure on Celtic to respond.
Celtic, managed by Brendan Rodgers, dominated possession but struggled to break through Rangers’ defense initially. The second half proved pivotal as Taylor redeemed himself by scoring the equalizer. He volleyed home a deflected shot from close range, leveling the match at 1-1.
Just moments later, Daizen Maeda scored for Celtic, putting them ahead 2-1 with a composed finish inside the box after pouncing on a loose header from Leon Balogun. The stadium buzzed with anticipation as Celtic fans believed they were on the brink of securing the trophy.
Rangers, exhibiting resilience, equalized again thanks to Mohamed Diomande, who slid the ball past Schmeichel to make it 2-2. The match continued to showcase end-to-end action, and with just minutes remaining, Celtic seemed to have clinched their victory when Nicolas Kuhn put them back in front at 3-2 with just three minutes left on the clock.
But the drama didn't end there. Danilo, freshly introduced to the game, headed home another equalizer for Rangers mere seconds after Celtic's goal, sending shockwaves through the stadium and forcing the match to extra time.
Extra time saw no goals, but plenty of tension, with both teams vying hard to seize control. The match was marred by moments off the pitch, including reports of clashes between fans and the igniting of flares, indicating just how heated Old Firm matches can get.
When the match went to penalties, the atmosphere turned electric. Both teams displayed remarkable composure, with the first six penalties being successfully converted. The pressure then swung to Rangers’ Ridvan Yilmaz, whose effort was saved by Schmeichel, giving Celtic the upper hand.
With the chance to win it, Daizen Maeda stepped up and coolly slotted his penalty to seal the victory for Celtic and secure the Scottish League Cup for the 22nd time, once again asserting their dominance over Rangers.
This triumph not only adds another trophy to Celtic’s cabinet but continues their impressive run, now nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table and positioning them well for future successes this season.
Celtic’s victory over Rangers is sure to be discussed for years to come, as it showcased the essence of the Old Firm rivalry—intense, unpredictable, and full of emotion. For Rangers, it begins the process of regrouping and re-evaluing their strategy as they look to challenge their rivals again soon.
The Cup final may be over, but the reverberations of this thrilling encounter will be felt long after the final whistle was blown, reminding fans and players alike why this historic rivalry remains at the heart of Scottish football.
