And Ewan Murray was there to see it.
It was appropriate that the two pieces of genuine quality in an instantly forgettable final were sufficient to win the League Cup for Celtic. Rangers had a pulse after Alfredo Morelos reduced a deficit which had sat at 2-0 but Kyogo Furuhashi’s earlier interventions proved key. Ange Postecoglou’s team have successfully defended their trophy and punctured the sense of optimism apparent at Ibrox since Michael Beale’s arrival. The more cohesive football here was played by those in hoops.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor speaks to the BBC:
It means the world to me. Time after time, you’re tasked to win at this club. This is a special group. We can do both sides of the game. Listen to this place. It’s rocking. [Kyogo’s} a special player.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, the Celtic defender, talks to Viaplay:
It’s a brilliant feeling. We work hard all through the year for moments like this and all the boys are buzzing. Every game we play the support is top. It’s up to us to reward them. For me, it’s a separate competition. it’s good to get the cup won.
Celebratory
🏆 Celtic Football Club are the 2022/23 #ViaplayCup Winners! 🏆
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 26, 2023
Congratulations, Bhoys! 🥇✊#CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/suJvKLznv8
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FULL-TIME: Rangers 1-2 Celtic pic.twitter.com/0qz9xXzxKH
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 26, 2023
Celtic win the Scottish League Cup!
Kyogo Furuhashi the hero, two neat finishes and then some dogged defending gets the job done, another trophy, three from four for Ange Postecoglou, leaving Michael Beale looking for his first as Rangers manager. Celtic reign supreme in Scotland for the moment but that was a close-run thing.
90+5 min: An amazing passage of play as Haksabanovic, suddenly, escapes the entire Rangers defence and then has the goal at his mercy. And somehow, he misses, and when Allan McGregor releases the ball, he has to chase it all the way back….but no matter, that’s the last of it.
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90+4 min: Cantwell can’t keep the ball in on the touchline. He’s not had much fun since coming on.
90+3 min: Johnston heads away and then Celtic go on the attack. They really should score, and O’Riley is psyched out by Allan McGregor. That was the cup right there. Cantwell is booked for one of the many heavy tackles that have been flying in.
90+1 min: A further minute will be added on, we are told, as the last stramash dragged on rather. Callum McGregor is down and that may waste more time.
90 min: There will be four minutes added on. Kent is meanwhile booked, as is Barasic for a joint clattering of Iwata.
89 min: Rangers attempt to fashion a chance down their left. The ball skids to Colak and then Barisic, both of whom can count themselves as victims of the Hampden turf. Then Haksabanovic escapes on the counter, and forces a save from McGregor, and then wins a corner after some last-ditch defending. It will be used to hold the ball in the corner.
87 min: Joe Hart taking longer over his goal-kick now. Celtic pushing up, pressing hard, going long with the ball.
86 min: Celtic try to keep the ball in the Rangers final third, in the corner. Then an offside relieves the pressure on Rangers.
84 min: More subs:
For Celtic: Maeda off for Haksabanovic.
For Rangers: Sakala for Wright
83 min: Joe Hart gratefully receives a Barasic ball and then bowls it out. Celtic then concede possession. Abada goes on a dart, and then goes down in the box. Penalty? No, he dived, and when the referee waves a yellow card is apologetic.
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81 min: Cantwell fouls O’Riley, and looks annoyed. The same player then looks to go down again before the referee waves play on.
79 min: Oh, not long on, is booked for swiping his arm in the direction of Davies. Then Colak swings and misses in the Celtic box before Sakala also stumbles in the act.
78 min: Morelos, his shorts ripped, did not like being subbed. He aims a kick at some Hampden masonry. Brave shout, some of that’s been there since the 19th century.
76 min: Two Celtic changes: Oh and Iwata on, Kyogo and Hatate off.
One Rangers change: Morelos off, Colak on
75 min: More Cantwell galloping, before Maeda ploughs him over. Each Cantwell touch of the ball has seen him baulked to the deck. Welcome to Glasgow, blondie.
73 min: A grateful McGregor clears up after his own mistake had given a galloping Cantwell chance to attack. It’s breathless now, what a game. Just when Jack looks likely to make a chance for Tavernier the ball is cleared. Somehow.
71 min: Rangers’ free-kick specialist is Tavernier, and his shot slaps off the wall and Joe Hart punches behind. At the other end, Abada almost got away, but Raskin comes in with a last-ditch cruncher to clear up.
70 min: Rangers fans still making plenty of noise in the stand, they’ve not given up hope. And when Todd Cantwell is brought down, they have a free-kick chance, and well in range of a free-kick specialist. Greg Taylor is booked, to boot.
68 min: Celtic try to put their foot on the ball. Callum McGregor manages to saunter deep into Rangers territory only for Goldson to get in the way. Abada gets a chance to go on the attack but is squeezed out.
67 min: Mary Waltz is in: “John , I got up at 5AM to watch the London Derby and struggled to stay awake. I could do without the low grade artillery barrage but the Scottish football is a banger, the crowd, the kits and the most important the football.”
65 min: Here comes some changes, two for Celtic, three for Rangers.
For Celtic: Abada and O’Riley replace Jota and Mooy
For Rangers: Cantwell for Lundstram, Raskin for Kamara, Jack on for Tillman
Goal! Rangers 1-2 Celtic (Morelos, 64)
A free-kick on the edge of the Celtic box, drilled by Tavernier, and then Morelos, falling back pokes it home. Game on!
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62 min: This is a test of Celtic’s defensive resolve, something not tested too much in the SPFL, with apologies to the rest of the Premiership.
60 min: Long ball for Morelos. And Tillman cuts the ball back for Celtic to hack away. They are defending deep now. Rangers are readying their subs. Three to come on.
58 min: Glen Kamara booked for smashing into Hatete, and that makes both him and Lundstram who are on sudden death.
57 min: Rangers have it all to do, and must go on the attack when Celtic are so quick on the counter.
Goal! Rangers 0-2 Celtic (Kyogo, 56)
It’s that Japan man again. Mooy plays creator again, slipping in a speeding Hatate, and then Kyogo, the poacher, times his run and pokes home. That’s brilliantly carved goal. So yeah, you won’t be seeing that from Chelsea…all credit to Celtic.
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54 min: The fireworks have died down at last. The smoke lingers. Meanwhile, Mooy, not exactly a paceman, crosses the ball in. But beyond his colleagues. Hatate then brings the ball back towards goal and Rangers clear with discomfort. Yeah, this is miles better than Spurzzz vs G-Pott’s Chelsea….
52 min: Jota, such an effective player, bobs and weaves but fails to find a colleague and Barasic deflects the ball behind. Celtic fail to make much of the corner.
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50 min: Ryan Kent rattles the corner of the post and, with Joe Hart stranded, Sakala decides to rattle the side-netting rather than lay up Morelos in the centre.
Then Lundstram is booked for clattering Mooy. This is all happening with fireworks going off like it’s a fiesta in Bilbao in the background.
49 min: Fireworks and bare chests in the Celtic end. Are they out of their tiny minds?
48 min: On the Viaplay (me neither) broadcast, Alistair McCoist has just described the opening salvos as “pretty scrappy”, Ally being the master of understatement.
46 min: By the way, we back underway, and it’s smoky once more. No subs, plenty more aggro to come. Looks like some half-time rockets were launched in both dressing rooms.
Joe Pearson gets in touch: “Having never heard of ‘Insomnia’ before today, I’ve now seen it mentioned twice in one day. The other was in an interesting article by Nick Miller (formerly of these parts) in The A****** about runout songs, complete with a playlist link. I suppose this behavior is like the proverbial London buses?”
It was a big tune in 1996-7 when a lot of people in Britain were doing stuff that meant they were struggling to sleep. The rapper, Maxi Jazz, died recently, and that’s brought it back to prominence. Stadium DJs do seem to have stopped listening to music sometime around 1999.
Sample lyrics..ahem:
I used to worry, thought I was going mad in a hurry
Gettin’ stressed, makin’ excess mess in darkness
No electricity, something’s all over me, greasy
Insomnia, please release me and let me dream
Of makin’ mad love to my girl on the heath
Tearin’ off tights with my teeth
Luke Jones gets in touch: “I watched the Chelsea-Spurs game and when it ended switched to the Scottish League Cup. The quality of play is lower, but it’s amazing how much more fun it is to watch. Your brother-in-MBM Rob Smyth was hunting for new ways to say “sterile possession” in the Spurs-Chelsea game, but there has been nothing sterile about this. Plus you have the added fun of wondering how Morelos will get himself sent off and (for us in the USA! USA!) getting to watch a couple of Americans actually play. It makes me wonder if maybe we have all been tricked into thinking having a few hundred million in transfer fees is on the pitch makes soccer better to watch.”
Luke makes a fine point.
Half-time: Rangers 0-1 Celtic
It was tight, it was tense but as chances began to open up, it was Kyogo’s expert finish that separates the two teams. A thunderous second half no doubt awaits.
45 min: A well-worked goal, Rangers were pulled in one direction and then Celtic scored from the overlap. Only a minute is added on, and there’s been little let-up, it’s true.
Goal! Rangers 0-1 Celtic (Kyogo, 44)
At the third time of asking, Kyogo does it. Hatate plays the ball out wide to Taylor, and the pass into the middle is swung and missed at. Kyogo has no such problem.
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42 min: Kyogo again, but heads wide. Callum McGregor gets the ball into the middle from the wing, and the Japanese player misses the best chance of the half so far.
41 min: Kyogo skids one wide, having been played though by Jota. A cross might have been the more useful idea.
40 min: Rangers in possession, and Ryan Kent has gone out to the right wing, and he comes in to shoot off his left foot. It’s not a success.
38 min: Jota comes in off the right flank, drawing in Barasic before slipping in Kyogo to shoot. But shoot wide.
37 min: Difficult to know where the goal comes from. The defences are ruling supreme.
34 min: Celtic’s turn for a corner, Mooy taking but cleared away with ease. It’s a game based around running battles and full-bore tackles. The usual, in short.
32 min: Another Rangers corner. Carter-Vickers gets it clear with Goldson lurking with intent as it came in.
31 min: So close….Carter-Vickers knocks the ball behind when Sakala had the ball laid on a plate from Tavernier. The resultant corner causes a few problems, too. The Hart-Dog is all at sea so Celtic are relieved to put the ball behind.
29 min: Celtic pass the ball slowly. After all, passing the ball quickly has not been much use to them. Rangers have been keeping their shape well, though at the expense of their own attacking. Extra-time is already smellable.
27 min: Not much space out there, and when it becomes available not much is being used.
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24 min: Tavernier makes a dart at last down the flank, and his target in the middle is Morelos, who is a bit slow to make himself available. A corner will have to suffice. Amd that comes to very little.
23 min: Kent stopped on the edge of the Rangers box before Mooy, the creator, starts a Celtic move. That breaks down. It’s really tetchy stuff out there, and not too easy on the eye.
21 min: Pitch-watch: it looks as raddled as Rod. It’s breaking up all over the place.
Meanwhile, Celtic think they should have a penalty when Kyogo is brought down, then Jota shoots and the ball is well saved by McGregor.
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19 min: Morelos has time in the Celtic box to turn and shoot but Starfelt is in his way and the shot bobbles back out.
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18 min: Foul on Morelos? He looked to jump into Johnston in midfield. Still time for the Colombian to explode in some form or other.
16 min: Rangers definitely growing into what has become an even contest. Rod looks a bit chilly in the crowd.
14 min: First Rangers attack of note and Barasic forces a corner. It leads to an extended spell of pressure in which Lundstram and then Kent shoot, the first effort blocked, the second launched into the stands.
12 min: All Celtic so far, and the likes of John Lundstram are having to get through heavy defensive work for Rangers.
10 min: A glimmer of a Celtic chance but there’s an offside flag. The sound of the Beautiful South’s Rotterdam can be heard from both sets of fans. It is doubtful they are singing the lyrics of Paul Heaton.
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8 min: No chances so far. It’s been very tight without being too dirty. Yet. Rangers are pushing up and pressing, Celtic are just passing the ball around. Jota tries to get something moving, Kyogo nods down and Rangers hack clear.
6 min: Hatate scampers away from danger, and Celtic continue to pass the ball around. Then Tillman, in attempting to put in a tackle, falls to the floor. Looks to have banged his knee but he should be OK to play on.
4 min: Risky backpass from Tillman in showing unnecessary cool in playing the ball back to his goalkeeper. Allan McGregor hoiks clear. Good touch, though he won’t want to receive the ball too often.
3 min: In these early stages, every tackle and challenge is being cheered.
2 min: Celtic begin with the impetus before Jota’s attempt to get something going sees the ball drift out of play.
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1 min: And away we go…the smoke is heavy. The pyro has been off the scale.
There’s loud applause for Ron Gordon, the late Hibernian chairman, who died this week, and then the tribal anthems can begin.
And here the players come, handshakes all round as Mike and Ange lead their men along the other line. The atmosphere is bubbling.
The sound of Faithless’ Insomnia and some supremely ineffective flames on what is a bright, sunny day suggest the grand entrance of the team to the Hampden pitch is not far off.
Rod Stewart has arrived….
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Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the BBC.
It’s not a nervousness, it’s an excitement. I’d much rather be here than be on the couch watching two other teams play. This is why I do what I do. I want to be part of successful teams, that’s the case here. Every trophy is hard earned. If we win today, it’ll be hard earned.
We had a strong training week. It’s fine margins between who starts and who doesn’t. There’s no doubt we’ll need five guys off the bench.
The players don’t need too much motivation today.
From the last two Old Firm meetings in this final.
Rangers manager Michael Beale has been speaking to the BBC.
It’s a fantastic day for the fans and the club. It’s where we want to be.
I’m delighted John Lundstram, Malik Tillman, Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield have all come through some injury scares. We’re strong in selection and off the bench. We have options to help if and when required. When you look at the team we have out, we can’t have any complaints afterwards. We now need to perform to our capability.
The key to us winning today is focusing on Rangers and bringing the best version of ourselves.
What’s the meaning of those teams? Malik Tillman is back for Rangers after recovering from a hamstring injury. John Lundstram also starts this afternoon’s Old Firm final after recovering from a knock. Pantene addict Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin drop to the bench accordingly.
For Celtic, Aaron Mooy returns to midfield and Kyogo Furuhashi starts up front. Hyeon-Gyu Oh and Matt O’Riley are benched.
The teams are in
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Kamara, Lundstram, Tillman, Sakala, Kent, Morelos. Subs: McLaughlin, Hagi, Jack, Colak, Cantwell, Wright, Arfield, Raskin, Devine
Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor,Mooy, Hatate, Jota, Maeda, Kyogo. Subs: Bain, Haksabanovic, Abada, Kobayashi, Turnbull, O’Riley, Iwata, Ralston, Oh
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Ewan Murray previewed the game.
The approaches of Beale and Postecoglou are intriguingly different. The former is new age in respect of lavishing praise on players and emphasising the strength of his relationships with them. Postecoglou maintains distance between himself and his squad, while harbouring no fear over criticising them in public.
Celtic’s greater strength in depth renders Postecoglou’s style easier to implement, of course. Celtic buy to improve, with their manager paying only lip service to the development of players from within the club’s academy system. It is to Beale’s credit that he appears willing to give youth a chance.
Preamble
An Old Firm derby in the Scottish League Cup final brings with it a wealth of possibilities, not all of them pleasant. It’s the 16th time it’s happened in what was once known as the Skol Cup. Of the previous 15 times, Celtic have won six while Rangers have won nine. This time, it’s Celtic who are favourites, with Ange Postecoglou’s team riding high and Michael Beale not long since returned to the club where he helped Steven Gerrard win the league title. Since their return from the lower leagues, Rangers have been low on trophies, winning just two major gongs in the last two decades, with apologies to the Scottish League Challenge Cup of 2016. That’s not to dismiss last season’s Europa League heroics but it’s the East End of Glasgow that is more familiar with the routine of trophy celebrations these days; this offers the chance for Postecoglou secure his third major Scottish honour from a possible four. And so to Hampden, and a fixture to be full-blooded and a game that’s all about sticking it to the opposition.
Kick-off is 3pm Glasgow time. Join me.
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