Celtic beat Rangers after ET to reach Premier Sports Cup final

Celtic edged Rangers 3-1 after extra time at Hampden Park on Sunday to reach the Premier Sports Cup final, a dramatic Old Firm showdown that marked interim manager Martin O’Neill’s second win since returning to Parkhead. Johnny Kenny put Celtic ahead in the 25th minute, Rangers were reduced to 10 men when Thelo Aasgaard was sent off in the 38th, James Tavernier equalised from the penalty spot on 81 minutes, and Callum McGregor and substitute Callum Osmand struck early and late in extra time to secure Celtic’s victory. Celtic will face St Mirren in the final on December 14.

The match swung on two pivotal incidents. Aasgaard received a straight red for a high challenge on Anthony Ralston, leaving Rangers to play the remainder of normal time with ten players. Rangers then earned a penalty after a Djeidi Gassama shot was ruled to have struck Ralston’s arm; Tavernier converted to force extra time. Celtic’s numerical advantage ultimately proved decisive in the extra 30 minutes when McGregor’s long-range strike beat Jack Butland and Osmand finished from a Kieran Tierney cross for his first goal for the club.

Rangers criticised refereeing decisions from referee Nick Walsh and the VAR...