Rangers moved into the Scottish League Cup semi-finals after a 3-0 victory over their rivals Celtic on Sunday. Dan Neil scored two goals, leading the team to a strong win.
Neil opened the scoring with a precise shot from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute at Ibrox Stadium. With no Celtic fans allowed in the stands due to a ticket dispute, the whole stadium erupted when Neil scored his first goal since joining from Sunderland.
Rangers’ new striker Kevin Kelsy also celebrated his first goal for the club, scoring to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute. Neil then added a third goal in the 75th minute, sealing a surprisingly easy victory in the quarter-final.
Rangers’ manager Derek McInnes enjoyed his first win in the Old Firm derby since taking over in the summer from Hearts. His team has now won five consecutive matches, bouncing back from a slow start to the season.
“It was the performance and result we were all looking for. The game demanded a big performance, and I thought we delivered on that,” McInnes said. “I love the togetherness. I need to have this team who cares for each other, has love for each other.
“When things aren’t going well, you sometimes see the true strength. We’ve had some soul-searching and tough times the past few weeks. It’s a good reference point for my players. They’re a young squad, and they saw how much that result means to the supporters.”
This loss marked Celtic’s first defeat in the league this season. They did not pose much of a threat to the Rangers goal throughout the match. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said his team would not have to wait long for a chance at revenge, as both teams will meet again in the Scottish Premiership next Sunday, with away fans still banned.
“We were well beaten. The 3-0 scoreline doesn’t hide it; it was a tough afternoon for us,” O’Neill said. “We were well in the game early on, even at half-time, but they were stronger than us on the day, and they deserved to win.
“Next Sunday will be a different ball game when we’ve got the home crowd with us. We can learn from this, and that’s the most important thing. We need to.”
Rangers will face Aberdeen in the semi-finals, while Hearts will play against Hibernian. The matches are set for the weekend of October 31 and November 1 at Hampden Park.
Hearts won 3-0 against Stenhousemuir on Friday, Hibernian also defeated Ross County 3-0, and Aberdeen advanced after a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, winning 3-1 on penalties.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇