Rangers 2-2 Celtic: Reo Hatate rescues point for champions in stoppage time after Youssef Chermiti wonder goal
Match report and highlights as Rangers let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Celtic at Ibrox; Youssef Chermiti scores wonder goal before doubling lead in first half; Kieran Tierney header brings Celtic back into it before Reo Hatate scores rebound from Jack Butland penalty save
Sunday 1 March 2026 20:20, UK
Reo Hatate scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Celtic as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rangers in a pulsating Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
A Youssef Chermiti wonder goal put Rangers ahead early on as the hosts piled on the pressure before the striker took advantage of some slack Celtic defending to double their lead before the half-hour mark.
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Celtic improved tremendously after half-time with Kieran Tierney's header reducing the deficit and they were the better team in the second period.
They got their reward in the dying minutes when Daizen Maeda's header struck the hand of Dujon Sterling, with Hatate's spot-kick and follow up initially saved by Jack Butland before the midfielder eventually bundled the ball into the net.
Both sides had watched Hearts extend their lead at the top the day before and knew a win on either side was vital to keep the pressure on the league leaders in an enthralling title race.
The game started at its usual frantic tempo but it was the home side who settled with more purpose. Nico Raskin forced Viljami Sinisalo into an early stop before being called back for offside but it was a sign of building Rangers pressure.
They did take the lead just eight minutes in with Andreas Skov Olsen standing his cross up to the centre of the box where Chermiti met it with a stunning overhead kick to fire the ball past Sinisalo.
The hosts had their tails up and nearly got a second soon after. Mikey Moore advanced with pace down the left before standing a ball up to the back post but Chermiti and Skov Olsen combined to knock the ball onto the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.
Celtic did try to work their way back into the game with Daizen Maeda's cross evading Junior Adamu before Tierney called Butland into action with a dangerous low ball into the box.
Rangers looked dangerous every time they got into Celtic's final third, however, and they doubled their lead after 26 minutes. Dane Murray made a mess of trying to clear Raskin's clipped ball over the top, with a persistent Chermiti then robbing the ball from the path of Julian Araujo to flick the ball round the defender and finish past Sinisalo.
It nearly got even better for the hosts five minutes before half-time when Moore's cross was met well by the towering Emmanuel Fernandez but his header flashed just wide.
Martin O'Neill made changes at half-time, introducing Sebastian Tounekti and Hatate in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Junior Adamu but it was Rangers who started the half on the front foot.
Skov Olsen saw an effort deflected wide before Tuur Rommens could have done better after connecting with a Moore cross at the back post but he sent his effort straight at Sinisalo.
Celtic did start to gain a foothold in the second half shortly after that, however, getting more of the ball and frustrating the hosts. Benjamin Nygren had a chance but fired well over the bar from the edge of the box before Hatate forced Butland into a good save from distance.
They were rewarded for their pressure just before the hour mark when Rangers failed to clear their lines, allowing Nygren to deliver a cross into the box where Tierney was unmarked and he powered a header back across Butland and into the net.
Celtic had a great chance to get back on level terms soon after when Maeda found some space in the box but he could only direct his header straight at Butland before Hatate fired over from the edge of the box.
The visitors really should have got their equaliser after 78 minutes following some brilliant build-up play, when Luke McCowan found himself in acres of space but his curling effort was smothered by Butland.
Ibrox was nervy as the clock ticked down and Rangers fans thought they had witnessed another unbelievable Butland save from a Maeda header only for referee John Beaton to be called to the monitor with Sterling adjudged to have used his hand to deflect the Celtic forward's chance.
The Rangers goalkeeper produced a brilliant stop to deny Hatate from the spot and then again on the follow up but he could not prevent the midfielder eventually bundling the ball into the net to help Celtic secure a last gasp point in a result that will leave Hearts and Motherwell fans thrilled.
O'Neill: Celtic could have won
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill on Sky Sports:
"First half we were not good, we were second best. We were not even second best, we were about fourth best. Rangers got off to a great start, they were dominating proceedings, they got the second goal, not a great one from our viewpoint.
"At half-time you were thinking we had to show more determination, more spirit, more aggression and win some second balls and then having 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. The crowd started to get concerned about their own team's performance, we are in the ascendancy and we played really well in the second half. You need determination to go and do it but we played some really good stuff in the second half, wave after wave. And this is at Ibrox as well so that gives us more heart.
"By contrast to quite a number of years ago, I am relatively calm. If it had been the old team I would have gone absolutely ballistic [at half-time] but this team, like the old team, find a way and they came roaring back.
"They showed a bit of determination and heart and that has been the case. It is the sign of champions. Generally speaking they have been in cruise control for the last couple of months of each season and this has been really difficult. We've been chasing the whole way through and that will remain the case."
Rohl: Rangers needed third goal
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl on Sky Sports:
"When you lead 2-0 you are very disappointed when you get a draw at the end. I think we played an outstanding first half, even the start of the second half, the first five or six minutes was really well run.
"We said 2-0 is always difficult because the opponent need one moment and then they can come back. In the second half we were not clinical in possession, too many chances for them to get the ball back.
"We said at half-time we wanted to continue the last line and we had some moments where we didn't, we lost the ball. They had some momentum with the 2-1 and they had nothing to lose. We are really disappointed today but next week we have to go again.
"For me it was clear you need the 3-0. We had moments to do this and then finally they have nothing to lose and score the 2-1. Until the end you fight for this point and then it was lucky for them to get the penalty so late."
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl on Sky Sports on VAR and penalty incident:
"Maybe, maybe not, I think it is not really my part.
"The important thing is that every week you have good decision-making and today and last week were against us but this is football."
