Lovenkrands last-gasp winner sinks Celtic
Peter Lovenkrands was the Ibrox Stadium side's hero, with two goals including a dramatic winner in second-half injury time to give the blue half of Glasgow a domestic cup double, with The Gers already in possession of this season's CIS Insurance Cup.
Alex McLeish's side were the better side throughout the encounter, despite Celtic scoring two set-piece headers from John Hartson and Bobo Balde, but Lovenkrands's brace and a sublime free-kick strike by Barry Ferguson overcame one-goal deficits on two occasions.
The match started brightly, with Rangers getting a free-kick when Claudio Caniggia was fouled on the outside Celtic penalty box by Johan Mjallby inside the first two minutes.
However, from the ensuing free-kick on the right, Lorenzo Amoruso headed the ball over the bar.
The Gers got another chance minutes later from a set-piece, after Andy Thompson fouled Fernando Ricksen outside Celtic's box.
But again the chance was wasted, as Neil McCann took the direct free-kick over Celtic's wall but wide of Bhoys goalkeeper Rab Douglas's left-hand post.
The Scottish Premier League champions failed to make any real threat at Rangers's goal, with chances from Thompson and Didier Agathe going high and wide.
Rangers were forced to make an early change when Caniggia, who looked dangerous with his runs in possession early on, collided with unfamiliar centre-half Chris Sutton and was forced to come off with a knee injury, with substitute Shota Averladze coming on in his place.
Celtic would force Gers goalkeeper Stephane Klos into a fine save, when John Hartson turned his marker and went to the by-line.
The Welshman cut the ball back at goal and Klos tipped the ball over the bar to give away the corner.
But The Bhoys would make the first breakthrough, when Celtic's corner found Bobo Balde at the far post, he headed downwards and with Hartson unmarked and Klos staying on his line, he headed the ball past the German to give Martin O'Neill's side a 1-0 lead.
After a pensive start, Hartson's goal livened the Old Firm clash and Rangers would respond, when a long ball from Maurice Ross went towards Lovenkrands and caused all sorts of problems for Celtic defenders Mjallby and Sutton.
Lovenkrands was able to win possession, turn at goal, and strike a low shot from the corner of Celtic's box past Douglas to equalise for Alex McLeish's side, making it 1-1.
It was the Ibrox side that went close to scoring a go-ahead goal, with Lovenkrands in again with a volley from a Ricksen cross that forced Douglas to make a good save.
Arthur Numan and McCann went close with strikes that went close of Celtic's goal, as the match heated up in traditional Old Firm fashion.
With Rangers controlling the play and making more attacks forward, Celtic faced more worry when skipper Paul Lambert, who was a pre-match doubt with an ankle problem, was forced to come off just before half-time after being unable to continue and substitute Jackie McNamara came on in his place just before the break.
Balde forced Klos into another save with a header for Celtic, as the half-time whistle came from referee Hugh Dallas that saw a first half with two goals, two early substitutions, and Rangers controlling most of the play.
The second half started with some chippy fouls and rash challenges from both sides, including a late lunge by Hartson on Arveladze for which the striker received a yellow card.
But after a free-kick given to Celtic just outside Rangers penalty box, Neil Lennon whipped a far-post ball to Balde, who beat Amoruso and powered his header past Klos to restore Celtic's lead at 2-1.
With McLeish's side behind again, they again took the match to Celtic and Amoruso and Ricksen went close with chances to equalise.
Barry Ferguson would come even closer, when he lined up a sublime shot from the top of Celtic's box that flew past a pile of players and Douglas, but to rattle of the post and roll away to safety.
However, the Scottish international would not be denied, when from a foul given at the top of Celtic's box, Ferguson hit a superb free-kick over The Bhoys' wall and past a sprawling Douglas to bring the sides level again.
Celtic created little in the second half, with their best opportunity coming from a free-kick after Hartson was fouled on the edge of Rangers' box by Numan.
However Henrik Larsson, who had a quiet match, put his free-kick into the wall and then blasted the rebound high and wide of goal.
Rangers were the better side, as the match headed to the latter stages, with Ricksen forcing Mjallby to clear his shot off the line after Douglas lost control off a cross played into the box.
Lovenkrands would force Douglas to make a good save after getting to the by-line with the ball, after being played in and adjudged on side.
But with the match seemingly heading for extra time, Rangers domination of possession paid off in the two minutes of added time.
A McCann cross from the left found the inspired Lovenkrands at the far post and his header shot bounced past Douglas to give Rangers a dramatic last minute victory over their arch-rivals and a domestic cup double.
McLeish will now know that Celtic are not unbeatable anymore and with this performance, show that they are capable of challenging Martin O'Neill's side for honours next season.
Click below for match summary:
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
