Celtic earned a spot in the Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals with a 1-0 win in a hot tempered clash with Old Firm rivals Rangers.
Mark Wilson netted the decisive goal for Celtic, while Rangers had three players sent off as tempers frayed at Celtic Park.
Celtic had the better of possession in the early stages, but it was Rangers who carved out the games first clear cut chance. Defender Steven Whittaker released El Hadji Diouf with a through ball, and the Senegal striker rounded Lukasz Zaluska before floating over a cross. Defender Daniel Majstorovic got back and headed clear to end the threat.
The home team began to settle into the game and Ki Sung-Yeung fired over the bar as the pressure on Rangers built. The game then took a turn on Celtic’s favor, Rangers defender Whittaker was booked for a foul on Ki, and dismissed less than 10 minutes later when a clumsy tackle on Emilio Izaguirre earned him a second yellow card.
The sending off sparked ugly scenes by the benches, and skirmish resulted in Diouf receiving a yellow card, and Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist both receiving verbal warnings from the referee.
Rangers began to look rattled, and American Maurice Edu almost committed a calamitous error when his errant back pass released Celtic striker Georgios Samaras on goal. The Greek forward wasted the gift chance when his shot was saved by Allan McGregor.
The feisty atmosphere continued with Celtic’s Majstorovic and Scott Brown entering the referee’s book, along with John Fleck of Rangers.
Ki almost stole a first half lead for Celtic when he went close with a free kick just before half-time. The interval did not see a break in hostilities, and players and coaching staff were involved in verbal and physical exchanges in the tunnel as they went off the field.
As the second half began, it was Celtic who channeled their emotions the best and were in front within three minutes of the restart. Izaguirre sent over a cross and Wilson had his back post shot blocked, the ball fell to Wilson again and he made no mistake the second time when he planted the ball past McGregor to put Celtic in front.
Rangers responded well, and Celtic went close to scoring an own goal when Charlie Mulgrew’s looping header had to be gathered awkwardly by his own keeper Zaluska.
Celtic continued to poour on the pressure, and Ki fired a swerving shot wide before Samaras was released by Brown only to see his shot bounce back off the goal post.
Rangers threw bodies forward but their best chance came with a free kick that Diouf hammered straight at Zaluska.
Rangers ended the night on a bad note when Madjid Bougherra was dismissed in injury time for a foul on Kris Commons, and Diouf was sent off for dissent after the final whistle brought an end to Rangers’ Scottish Cup campaign.
Celtic will move on the Quarter-Finals, and travel to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday March 13.
SCORING SUMMARY
CEL – Mark Wilson 48’
LINEUPS
CEL – Zaluska, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ki Sung-Yeung, Baram Kayal, Samaras, Commons, Hooper.
RAN – McGregor, Weir, Papac (Wylde 51), Foster, Bougherra, Edu, Davis, Whittaker, Bartley, Fleck (Hutton 46), Diouf.
Attendance: 57,847
Celtic had the better of possession in the early stages, but it was Rangers who carved out the games first clear cut chance. Defender Steven Whittaker released El Hadji Diouf with a through ball, and the Senegal striker rounded Lukasz Zaluska before floating over a cross. Defender Daniel Majstorovic got back and headed clear to end the threat.
The home team began to settle into the game and Ki Sung-Yeung fired over the bar as the pressure on Rangers built. The game then took a turn on Celtic’s favor, Rangers defender Whittaker was booked for a foul on Ki, and dismissed less than 10 minutes later when a clumsy tackle on Emilio Izaguirre earned him a second yellow card.
The sending off sparked ugly scenes by the benches, and skirmish resulted in Diouf receiving a yellow card, and Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist both receiving verbal warnings from the referee.
Rangers began to look rattled, and American Maurice Edu almost committed a calamitous error when his errant back pass released Celtic striker Georgios Samaras on goal. The Greek forward wasted the gift chance when his shot was saved by Allan McGregor.
The feisty atmosphere continued with Celtic’s Majstorovic and Scott Brown entering the referee’s book, along with John Fleck of Rangers.
Ki almost stole a first half lead for Celtic when he went close with a free kick just before half-time. The interval did not see a break in hostilities, and players and coaching staff were involved in verbal and physical exchanges in the tunnel as they went off the field.
As the second half began, it was Celtic who channeled their emotions the best and were in front within three minutes of the restart. Izaguirre sent over a cross and Wilson had his back post shot blocked, the ball fell to Wilson again and he made no mistake the second time when he planted the ball past McGregor to put Celtic in front.
Rangers responded well, and Celtic went close to scoring an own goal when Charlie Mulgrew’s looping header had to be gathered awkwardly by his own keeper Zaluska.
Celtic continued to poour on the pressure, and Ki fired a swerving shot wide before Samaras was released by Brown only to see his shot bounce back off the goal post.
Rangers threw bodies forward but their best chance came with a free kick that Diouf hammered straight at Zaluska.
Rangers ended the night on a bad note when Madjid Bougherra was dismissed in injury time for a foul on Kris Commons, and Diouf was sent off for dissent after the final whistle brought an end to Rangers’ Scottish Cup campaign.
Celtic will move on the Quarter-Finals, and travel to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday March 13.
SCORING SUMMARY
CEL – Mark Wilson 48’
LINEUPS
CEL – Zaluska, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ki Sung-Yeung, Baram Kayal, Samaras, Commons, Hooper.
RAN – McGregor, Weir, Papac (Wylde 51), Foster, Bougherra, Edu, Davis, Whittaker, Bartley, Fleck (Hutton 46), Diouf.
Attendance: 57,847
