Rangers vs Celtic Old Firm clash erupts into chaos after VAR decision | Football | Sport
Celtic came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox after being awarded a last-minute penalty when a Daizen Maeda header hit Dujon Sterling’s left hand. Jack Butland saved the spot-kick and kept the rebound out, but Reo Hatate eventually scored at the third time of asking.
Rangers led 2-0 at half-time following a pair of sensational goals by Youssef Chermiti, the first of which was an overhead kick inside the opening eight minutes. Kieran Tierney, however, halved the deficit as Celtic responded after the break, but their Old Firm rivals looked to be holding on to victory before the penalty.
Sterling blocked a goal-bound Maeda header with his hand before it hit Butland’s head. As a result, referee John Beaton went over to the pitchside monitor after a check by the video assistant referee and awarded a penalty.
Chris Sutton said on commentary for Sky Sports: ” It clearly hits his arm, it is a brilliant save by Sterling, and there is only one decision to make here…” Former Ranfers midfielder Scott Arfield also agreed, saying: “I thought it was a brilliant save by Butland, but it does touch his [Sterling’s] left hand…”
The result leaves Rangers second and six points behind league leaders Hearts. Celtic are third and eight points off the top, but have played one game less than their title rivals, which they are due to make up on Wednesday against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
As such, the reigning champions are happy with the point, which they felt would be a good result before kick-off, as it keeps it in their hands. Motherwell are also only two points behind Celtic having also played a match less than Hearts and Rangers.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor told Sky Sports afterward:” Sometimes you have to take your medicine and regroup, that’s what we did at half-time. We were by far the better team in the second half and probably unlucky not to win it.
“There’s a long way to go. We spoke before the game that a point is a good result. It keeps it in our hands. We just have to keep winning our games.”
Bhoys boss Martin O’Neill concurred: “At half-time, you were thinking we had to show more determination, more spirit, more aggression and win some second balls and then have the ability to pass. Other than the first three or four minutes of the second half, I thought we totally dominated the second period and we deserved something out of the game.
“And with the chances we carved out that we didn’t take, we could easily have won. The second half belonged to us and we were terrific.”
