Celtic v Rangers: Six goals, 10 pens & 120 minutes of Old Firm chaos

Celtic has only suffered one loss this season, which came against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

The main sports journalist for BBC Scotland reporting from Hampden.

After a thrilling match filled with six goals, 11 yellow cards, 12 player changes, and 120 minutes of intense action in the cup final, the game ultimately headed to a penalty shootout.

People were gasping for breath, legs were tightening with cramps, hearts were racing, and rain was pouring down.

“Total devastation, simply total devastation,” remarked Celtic defender Liam Scales in response to the events that transpired.

The pressure, the intensity, and the look of a troubled spirit on Ridvan Yilmaz's face as he made his way back to the halfway line after Kasper Schmeichel stopped his penalty.

Jack Butland, the Rangers goalkeeper, had to step up and score against Schmeichel to keep his team in the shoot-out, and he successfully did just that.

The tension mounted as Daizen Maeda prepared to take the final kick, a crucial chance to finally secure victory over a determined Rangers team. He executed it flawlessly.

Maeda presents himself as someone who remains unfazed by pressure, boldly confronting challenging circumstances. Throughout the situation, he exuded confidence, making it hard to believe he would falter.

This isn't about hindsight; this happened live. Maeda seemed right at home in that moment. He remained incredibly composed during the closing seconds of a match that, for much of the time, felt truly monumental.

"This Must Be The Old Firm's Most Painful Blow"

The Rangers appeared shocked and disheartened, and it's easy to see why. Out of all the defeats Celtic has dealt them in recent years, this one surely hurts the most.

It was arguably worse than last season's Scottish Cup final, which was clinched at the last minute by Adam Idah. That game was a real battle. On that occasion, Rangers didn't provide any of the goals or memorable moments that they produced last Sunday.

Is it worse than the Scottish Cup semi-final that Jota secured in April 2023? Absolutely.

Is it even more frustrating than the 3-0 and 4-0 losses they suffered during Ange Postecoglou's era and earlier this season? It certainly seems that way. Those were decisive defeats that came without the torment of wondering what could have gone differently.

The key factor was the feeling of regret.

With the score at 1-0 during Sunday’s match at Hampden, and Celtic looking less composed than usual, Rangers found an opportunity to break forward with a four-on-two advantage. Nedim Bajrami had possession of the ball while teammates were making runs around him.

If he had chosen wisely, he would have faced Schmeichel in a one-on-one situation from just a few feet away. Unfortunately, he didn't. He made a poor choice. It's a classic case of missed opportunities. A chance to go up 2-0 slipped away.

Additionally, just three minutes into the first half of extra time, Scales pulled Vaclav Cerny with such a slight force near the penalty area that Philippe Clement later voiced concerns about the absence of VAR review. He had a valid argument.

Rangers fans might be haunted by those nagging what-if scenarios just as much as they are by the late missed penalty.

As Celtic celebrated with the trophy, many Rangers supporters had already left the stadium, likely tired of feeling disappointed for the day. Only Butland and Cyriel Dessers remained on the sidelines to witness the moment. Maybe they just couldn't resist sticking around for more.

Clement's phone was flooded with penalties after an incident.

The Rangers had a list of essential tasks to complete in order to ensure a successful final, and one by one, they accomplished each one.

They managed to score first, something they hadn't accomplished in their last six matches against Celtic.

It was their first time scoring against Rodgers' squad in over four hours of play, and it marked the first occasion they took the lead against Celtic in over nine hours.

What other items were on their list of things to accomplish?

They managed to eliminate the harmful impact of McGregor.

Exhibit a killer instinct when it comes to scoring - absolutely.

Silencing Kyogo Furuhashi - accomplished.

Channel the same energy, effort, intensity, and determination that you showed on Thursday against Tottenham into your performance at Hampden – and do it spectacularly.

Tick, tick, tick. When it comes to personality, they had it in abundance.

When Greg Taylor, who shifted from being a villain to a hero, along with Maeda, turned the score from 0-1 to 2-1, it seemed like Celtic had finally taken control of the game. At that moment, we thought we understood how things would unfold, but in reality, we were completely in the dark.

Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande delivered outstanding performances, pressing and challenging the Celtic midfield that has caused them trouble repeatedly. It was Diomande who brought the score level.

With 15 minutes remaining in regular play, the score stood at 2-2. Just three minutes later, Celtic took the lead at 3-2.

Just twenty-one seconds after the game resumed, the score was tied at 3-3, thanks to Danilo's header. This moment highlighted that Rangers have recently discovered a new strength and a newfound confidence. However, they still haven't secured any trophies to show for it.

"Celtic’s Mental Strength Is Truly Inspiring"

"The key takeaway is to reach the podium when everything is said and done," said Rodgers.

Surprisingly, McGregor has never been defeated in a cup final, but he admitted, "Today was very close." The captain expressed his feelings with a mix of relief and sincerity.

"Our performance wasn't stellar, so we had to push through. We needed to stay calm under pressure. Remember, even if things aren't ideal, victory is still possible. Stay committed and tap into your inner strength."

As expected, Pyro showed up again, causing a delay in the kickoff. The ultras responded by giving the finger not only to their own clubs but also to the football authorities, who have been urging them to act responsibly. Will there be more charges from the SPFL? Only time will tell.

As the action kicked off, both sides were evenly matched. The Rangers played hard and were unyielding in their approach.

In the chaos of the moment, Taylor lost his composure and made a poor decision by trying to pass the ball sideways. Not only was it a bad choice, but the way he executed the play was also lacking, ultimately leading to the first goal.

The signs looked promising for the Rangers. Out of the last 49 League Cup finals, just four teams that scored first ended up losing the title. However, numbers don’t reflect the immense confidence that Celtic brings to the match.

They were in a difficult situation—lacking space, struggling for control, and with few opportunities—but they managed to overcome it. Celtic's mental resilience is truly impressive. Even though they weren’t performing at their peak, they still secured another championship.

The penalty shootout brought back memories of the Rangers' dramatic finish in the Europa League final in Seville against Eintracht Frankfurt. Back then it was Aaron Ramsey, and this time it's Yilmaz.

Schmeichel showcased his skills. He employed some strategic tactics to distract a few of the Rangers players during their penalty shots. When Ianis Hagi successfully scored his penalty against him, he responded with a few teasing remarks.

In the end, it all boiled down to Yilmaz facing off against Schmeichel and Maeda taking on Butland. Celtic came out on top, whether by a narrow margin or a significant lead—it's all the same in the grand scheme of things.

It's a unique type of win compared to past victories, yet the atmosphere in one locker room is filled with joy, while the other likely experiences silence and disappointment. This is the essence of great sports drama.