Rangers vs Celtic Ends in Stunning 3-0 Old Firm Victory
Rangers vs Celtic delivered a major Old Firm statement on Sunday as Rangers swept aside their Glasgow rivals with a convincing 3-0 victory at Ibrox to reach the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
Captain Dan Neil scored twice, while Kevin Kelsy added Rangers’ second goal during a dominant performance from Derek McInnes’ side.
Neil opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Kelsy doubled Rangers’ advantage after the break. Neil then struck again in the 75th minute to put the quarter-final beyond Celtic and send the Ibrox crowd into celebration.
The result was particularly significant for McInnes, who was taking charge of his first Old Firm derby as Rangers manager.
For Celtic and Martin O’Neill, however, it was a painful afternoon. Celtic struggled to turn possession and promising attacking positions into serious threats and ultimately suffered their first domestic defeat of the season.
Dan Neil Gives Rangers the Lead
The opening stages showed exactly what everyone expects from an Old Firm match: intensity, physical challenges and enormous pressure on both teams.
Rangers gradually began to look more dangerous.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute.
After Celtic failed to properly deal with an attacking move, Kelsy helped create the opportunity for Neil, who produced an excellent finish to put Rangers 1-0 ahead.
It was a huge moment for the summer signing.
Neil was wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Lawrence Shankland, and his performance quickly became one of the defining stories of the afternoon.
Celtic attempted to respond, but Rangers’ defensive organisation made it difficult for the visitors to create clear chances.
The home side went into half-time with a deserved 1-0 advantage.
Celtic Struggle to Find an Equaliser
Celtic still had plenty of time to change the match after the interval.
O’Neill’s side needed greater attacking urgency, but instead Rangers increasingly took control.
Celtic had opportunities to counter in the first half but repeatedly gave the ball away in promising situations. O’Neill later acknowledged that Rangers were stronger and deserved their victory.
Rangers, meanwhile, looked quicker and more aggressive.
McInnes’ team pressed Celtic, competed strongly for loose balls and prevented their opponents from establishing sustained attacking pressure.
That approach eventually produced the crucial second goal.
Kevin Kelsy Makes It Rangers 2-0 Celtic
In the 59th minute, Rangers doubled their advantage.
A dangerous James Penrice free-kick was flicked towards the back post, where Kevin Kelsy finished brilliantly to make it 2-0.
It was Kelsy’s first goal for Rangers and came at about the best possible moment.
The Venezuelan striker had already contributed to Neil’s opening goal before becoming the scorer himself.
At 2-0, Celtic suddenly faced an enormous challenge.
The visitors needed two goals simply to force their way back into the contest, but Rangers showed little interest in sitting deep and protecting their advantage.
Instead, the home side continued to threaten
Dan Neil Scores a Brilliant Third
If there was any doubt about the result, Neil removed it in the 75th minute.
The Rangers captain collected the ball around the edge of the Celtic penalty area before producing an excellent curling finish into the top corner.
It was his second goal of the afternoon and completed an unforgettable personal performance.
Neil later revealed that it was the first brace of his senior career, describing the experience of scoring twice in an Old Firm victory as an “unbelievable feeling.”
His two goals were impressive, but his overall midfield performance was equally important.
Neil gave Rangers energy and control in the middle of the pitch while also providing the attacking quality needed to turn dominance into goals.
For a player experiencing his first Old Firm derby, it was difficult to imagine a better introduction.
Rangers Deliver the Performance McInnes Needed
The Rangers vs Celtic victory is also a significant result for Derek McInnes.
The Rangers manager had faced scrutiny during the early stages of his time at Ibrox, but beating Celtic 3-0 provides a major confidence boost.
McInnes praised the contribution of both his players and the supporters, saying his side had found the right balance between pressing Celtic, playing through the lines and taking advantage of key moments.
Perhaps most encouragingly for Rangers, the victory did not feel like a fortunate cup upset.
They looked physically stronger, defended effectively and created the better opportunities.
The performance showed what McInnes wants his Rangers side to become: intense, organised and difficult to play against.
Difficult Afternoon for Martin O’Neill and Celtic
Celtic will have plenty to analyse.
O’Neill admitted afterwards that his side had been “second best” and described the defeat as a setback that Celtic needed to learn from.
The biggest concern was their lack of attacking threat.
Celtic reached promising positions but struggled to turn them into meaningful chances, while Rangers goalkeeper Filip Pandur was largely untroubled during long periods of the second half.
There is little time for Celtic to dwell on the defeat, though.
And there is a fascinating twist.
The two teams meet again next Sunday, 20 September — this time at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership. The SPFL fixture schedule confirms the rapid Old Firm rematch.
That gives Celtic an immediate opportunity for revenge.
No Celtic Supporters at Ibrox
Another unusual feature of Sunday’s match was the absence of Celtic supporters.
Away fans have been barred from Old Firm Premiership and League Cup matches this season following crowd trouble after a previous Scottish Cup meeting.
As a result, Ibrox was overwhelmingly filled with Rangers supporters.
More than 50,000 home fans created an intense atmosphere, giving Rangers a considerable psychological advantage as the home team.
McInnes highlighted the role played by the supporters after the match, while Neil also credited the crowd for helping drive the team forward.
Rangers Face Aberdeen in the Semi-Finals
The victory means Rangers are now through to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
Their next opponents will be Aberdeen, with the last-four ties scheduled for the weekend of 31 October and 1 November.
That gives Rangers another major opportunity to move closer to winning domestic silverware.
For Celtic, their League Cup campaign is over.
Their immediate focus will instead switch back to the Premiership — and conveniently, another Old Firm derby is already waiting.
What the Result Means for Rangers and Celtic
A 3-0 Old Firm victory inevitably carries more significance than an ordinary cup result.
For Rangers, it provides evidence that McInnes’ methods are beginning to produce results in the biggest matches.
Neil’s emergence as a leader is another major positive, while Kelsy’s first Rangers goal could provide an important confidence boost for the striker.
For Celtic, the defeat is a warning.
They had started the domestic season strongly, but Rangers exposed weaknesses that O’Neill will need to address quickly.
The beauty — or cruelty — of the fixture list is that Celtic do not have to wait long for another chance.
Chancey’s Premiership meeting at Celtic Park could therefore be even more fascinating.
Conclusion
Rangers vs Celtic ended with an emphatic message from the blue half of Glasgow.
Dan Neil’s superb double and Kevin Kelsy’s first Rangers goal delivered a 3-0 victory, knocked Celtic out of the Premier Sports Cup and sent Rangers into a semi-final against Aberdeen.
For McInnes, it was a potentially decisive moment in his Rangers tenure. For O’Neill and Celtic, it was an afternoon to forget — but one they will caner almost immediately.
The next chapter of the Old Firm rivalry is only a week away, with Celtic vs Rangers at Celtic Park on 20 September.
