Daizen Maeda scored the decisive spot-kick as Celtic beat bitter rivals Rangers 5-4 on penalties in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday after a dramatic 3-3 draw.
Rangers midfielder Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring in the 41st minute after a mistake by Celtic left-back Greg Taylor.
Taylor made amends in the 56th minute when his drive deflected in off Gers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, whose mistake cost Gers four minutes later as Maeda fired in a second for the Hoops.
Photo: Reuters
The Ibrox side rallied and leveled in the 75th minute through Mohamed Diomande.
Nicolas Kuhn restored Celtic’s lead in the 87th minute only for Rangers substitute Danilo to level a minute later and take the game to extra-time.
There were no further goals, and the game went to penalties.
Hoops goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel gave Brendan Rodgers’ side the advantage by saving Ridvan Yilmaz’s effort before Maeda beat Jack Butland to take the trophy back to Celtic Park.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement is now without a win in six matches against the Scottish Premiership leaders while Celtic moved ahead on the historical trophy count — 119 to 118.
“Over the last few weeks Philippe Clement has changed it a bit, so it didn’t surprise us,” Rodgers told Premier Sports.
“When you’re a big club you want to be on the front foot and press, and Rangers did that,” he said. “I think when you’re really successful it’s within your culture. You’ve got to keep fighting and working every day. The guys on the penalties were fantastic, and we pulled through in the end.”
“It’s cruel today, because you’re the team who get the most chances in the game...” Clement said. “It’s a big blow. The players deserved more than they got, that’s disappointing. We missed one penalty, they didn’t.”
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