Rangers absolutely steamrolled Celtic with a dominant 3-0 victory in the first Old Firm derby of the season on Sunday, a crushing blow that simultaneously knocked Celtic out of the Scottish League Cup quarterfinals. This wasn’t just another game, this was a statement, especially for a Celtic side that had been unbeaten domestically until this very match. Talk about a wake-up call, right?
Rangers Fire On All Cylinders in Derby Thrashing
Can we talk about Dan Neil for a sec? The guy was on fire! Not only did he bag a *double*, putting two absolute beauties in the net, but he was also rocking the captain’s armband. Talk about stepping up in a huge game! Neil got the ball rolling for Rangers, scoring from the edge of the area midway through the first half. What a way to set the tone! Then, newly signed Kevin Kelsy, who just joined the squad, slotted home Rangers’ second goal, showing exactly why he was brought in. And just to rub salt in the wound, Neil put the cherry on top with his third goal in the 75th minute, a fine finish that sealed the deal. This wasn’t just a win, it was a proper thumping, giving new coach Derek McInnes his first victory over Celtic.
Celtic’s Early Season Blues Pile Up
This defeat is a tough pill for Celtic fans to swallow, especially since it’s their first domestic loss of the season. And let’s be real, it just adds to an already rough start. Remember how they got knocked out of the Champions League qualifying playoffs by Austrian club LASK? Yeah, that still stings. Adding to the drama, Celtic fans were actually barred from the game itself. This came after a Scottish league review of some serious disorder that messed up a Scottish Cup quarterfinal match between these two teams back in March. Thankfully, there were no immediate reports of any trouble from this latest encounter, which is at least a small win off the pitch.
So, what’s next? Rangers have locked in a spot in the Scottish League Cup semifinals, set for October 31st and November 1st, where they’ll face Aberdeen. On the other side of the bracket, Hearts will battle Hibernian, all leading up to the final on December 13th. But before any of that, these two giants, Rangers and Celtic, are set to clash again next Sunday! Rangers will visit Celtic’s turf for a Scottish Premier League showdown. You know Celtic will be hungry for revenge after this performance, so get ready for another absolutely wild one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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