Celtic triumphed over their arch-rivals, Rangers, in the highly-anticipated Old Firm clash on Saturday, moving 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. A standout performance from striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored twice, secured the victory for the home team at Celtic Park.
The match started with both sides having goals disallowed in the opening stages, but it was Furuhashi who opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a clinical finish after receiving the ball from Matt O’Riley in the box. Rangers captain James Tavernier equalized with a stunning free-kick just before halftime, leaving the teams level at the break.
Furuhashi struck again just past the hour mark, taking advantage of a defensive lapse to score his second of the game and his fifth goal against Rangers this season. Celtic’s Jota extended the lead to 3-1 in the 73rd minute after capitalizing on a poor back pass by John Souttar, while Tavernier scored his 100th goal for Rangers six minutes later to set up a tense finish. However, Celtic held on to secure their 11th consecutive victory in the Premiership.
The game was played in front of a packed Celtic Park, with no Rangers fans in attendance due to safety concerns. Despite this, the home crowd created a hostile atmosphere, spurring on their team to victory. The win sees Ange Postecoglou’s side move up to 88 points from 31 games, while second-placed Rangers sit on 76 points.
Overall, it was an intense and gripping match that lived up to its billing as one of the biggest rivalries in world football. Celtic’s victory cements their position at the top of the league, leaving Rangers with a significant gap to close if they want to mount a serious title challenge.
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