Celtic blast Scottish title race wide open

Celtic blasted the Scottish Premier League race wide open with a thrilling 3-2 victory over fierce city rivals Rangers yesterday.

Although the Ibrox side have three games in hand, Celtic now have a five point advantage at the top of the table and have a realistic chance of securing their third title in a row — when only weeks ago their challenge had seemed over.

The Parkhead team’s goalscoring heroes were Australian striker Scott McDonald, who grabbed a brace, and Barry Robson, who converted from the penalty spot.

However, they were made to work hard for the win after goals from David Weir and Daniel Cousin had canceled out McDonald’s opener to give Rangers a brief first-half lead.

Celtic had opened the scoring in the fourth minute with their first effort on goal.

Andreas Hinkel’s long ball forward was headed on by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and, although appearing to be a yard offside, McDonald raced in on goal, took a touch and lashed low past Rangers’ goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

However, Rangers restored parity in the 17th minute.

Steven Davis’ corner was met by veteran defender Weir at the front post and he sent a downward header beyond Celtic’s Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

Rangers then scored an almost identical goal to their first in the 29th minute. This time it was Cousin who met Davis’ corner at the front post to send a powerful header into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Only a victory was good enough to keep Celtic in the title race and in the 43rd minute they scored their second to level the match.

Aiden McGeady played a pin-point pass to the feet of McDonald and the little Australian cut inside before striking a right-foot shot that took a deflection before looping over Alexander into the net.

The game flowed end-to-end in the second half, but it was the home side who scored the fifth goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 70th minute. Paul Hartley’s pass put McDonald in on goal and the striker was unceremoniously bundled to the ground..

In the last Old Firm game McDonald had missed a penalty and so this time responsibility fell to Robson, who confidently drove the ball past Alexander low into the net.

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