Before Murray had shown any cards at all, Rangers were ahead. A clever turn in midfield gave Sone Aluko some space to run into, and he nutmegged a Celtic player before running into the box. He cut inside before slotting the ball past Fraser Forster and Rangers were 1-0 up after 11 minutes.
Celtic hit back almost immediately, as a clever Samaras run forced a quality save from Allan McGregor, before Antony Stokes’ follow-up was deflected over. McGregor made an even better save shortly after, turning a brilliant Stokes volley around the post. Cha was sent off after 29 minutes, forcing Neil Lennon to replace Stokes with Emilio Izaguirre.
The rest of the first half was relatively quiet, but as the second half began, Lennon was absent from the away dugout. It transpired that Murray had sent him off during half-time, and Lennon was forced to watch the rest of the game from the media room.
The game was still relatively even in the second half, but Celtic were reduced to 9 men when Wanyama was sent off after 57 minutes. Aluko sent the resulting freekick just wide, and Rangers inevitably started to dominate possession, although it took until the 72nd minute for them to score a 2nd. A Whittaker cross was met by Lee Wallace, with Forster making an excellent save, but the ball fell to substitute Andy Little who scored from a few yards out.
Rangers seemed to seal the win when a counter attack resulted in Wallace knocking the ball under Forster to make it 3-0, but there was a dramatic end to the match as Celtic pulled two goals back in the final 5 minutes. When Doran Goian mis-judged a high ball, Samaras broke into the box, avoiding a Whittaker lunge, but was taken down by Bocanegra. Celtic captain Scott Brown fired home an excellent penalty to make it 3-1, and minutes later Thomas Rogne bulleted home a header from a Kris Commons freekick to make it 3-2. But time ran out for Celtic and Rangers held on for the victory.
More than anything, it was a victory for the fans. Even with this win, it would take Celtic losing all of their remaining games, and Rangers winning all of theirs, to stop Celtic winning the title. It was a defiant win for Rangers, and despite their off-field problems, it was a reminder that there is still life at Ibrox.
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remind me again ….what have rangers won this season? 000000000000000000000000000000000000000
That’s right Jim, Rangers have won nothing. Where did I say they had? Incidentally, Kilmarnock are the only Scottish team to have won anything this season, so what’s your point?
Cha’s red card was risible, it was never a goal scoring opportunity. Kind of like when Papac hauled Samaras down, still an awful lot to do. OOps, forgot, Paul, sorry, Callum Murray didn’t think that was a foul at all.
Leaving aside the modern interpretation of a fair tackle, Wanyama went for the ball AND got it. Can Whittaker say the same?
Wallace was offside for the second goal, overlooked by the same linesman that flagged against Stokes when he was through one on one and clearly onside.
Another five minutes and the nine men would have won the league. Sadly even the time added on at the end was curtailed by the inept man in the middle.
The rule is ‘clear goal scoring opportunity’, not ‘easy goal scoring opportunity’. If Cha doesn’t foul Wallace, he’s one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Wanyama went in with both feet off the ground, an illegal tackle. Whittaker made no contact with him.
Wallace wasn’t offside.
So Celtic would have won if the game had been 99 minutes long? Strong argument there.
Absolute garbage with regard to Cha. Note that I didn’t say “easy. “Even Lionel Messi wouldn’t have considered it a clear goal scoring opportunity.
I accept Wanyama’s tackle is now considered illegal. I think I implied that in the first place. Do you have today’s Metro? The picture on p54 clearly shows the contact on Wanyama by Whittaker. I watched the game on TV and it’s pretty obvious on that also although the tint in your specs might impair this..
You have got to be kidding on Wallace not being offside. Even the diehards in my work agree.
The final point I was making was that towards the end of the game although outnumbered, Celtic looked much more likely to score than Rangers. Murray didn’t play the full 4 minutes.
Again, if Cha doesn’t foul Wallace, he is in the penalty area one-on-one with Forster. That is the definition of a goal scoring opportunity.
Whittaker does not stamp on, or kick, Wanyama. His foot is raised because he is avoiding the tackle, otherwise he would have been injured.
At what point do you consider Wallace to be offside? He is not offside when Whittaker crosses, and Lafferty jumping in front of him with Rogne doesn’t get a touch. He isn’t offside after Forster has saved either.
Murray blew the whistle at 93 minutes and 50-something seconds, according to the Sky clock. Celtic might have scored had he added another 30 seconds, so might Rangers.