The second Old Firm derby in as many weeks. Last weekend, Rangers and Celtic shared the points in the Scottish Premiership. Sunday’s cup clash meant stalemate was not an option – eventually one team would move on to this season’s semi-finals.
If seven days prior was a classic for reasons on the field, Sunday’s skirmish would be remembered for what happened after the final whistle. Far from a classic at Ibrox but an afternoon that will be mentioned within Scottish football circles for quite some time.
With Celtic fans being given a larger stadium allocation than their usual league allowance, fan behaviour from sets of supporters was always going to be placed under the lens of a much stronger microscope.
A POWDER KEG
That microscope cracking with what it would have witnessed after 120 minutes of football and a penalty shootout. Martin O’Neill’s men eventually running out 4-2 winners in a 12-yard duel, the bigger duel was to follow moments later.
There was no doubt that the increase in travelling support added to a much more charged atmosphere in the blue half of Ibrox – truth be told you would expect nothing less. Whether the electricity in the stands short-circuited that on the pitch could be argued.
Both outfits were punch-drunk after their league draw last weekend; their cup clash did not match the same level of output. The visitors not even managing a shot on target throughout the 120 minutes, even though they did have the ball in the net.
Daizen Maeda’s header looked like being Celtic’s first chance of the game and more importantly, the game’s opening goal. Unfortunately for the Japanese forward, teammate Liam Scales was caught offside by VAR.
Celtic’s goal chalked off, Rangers going through the same anguish in extra time. Delirium in the home ends with the minutes winding down. Emmanuel Fernandez having to wind down his celebrations when judged to have handled.
HOLD YOUR NERVE
Nothing could break the two sides over the space of two hours, time to find the ultimate deadlock of the day. Penalties. Who could hold their nerve and send their side to the final four of the Scottish Cup? Turns out Rangers lost their bottle when it mattered most.
The usually trusted James Tavernier missing from the spot for Rangers, as did colleague Djeidi Gassama. Over to Celtic forward Tomas Cvancara with the golden opportunity to win the game for the Bhoys.
An opportunity he was never going to turn down. An opportunity he did not. Celtic win. Floodgates open. Carnage as those in the away stand spilled on to the pitch, an action that was only going to create a reaction from their home counterparts.
A reaction that has already created plenty of condemnation from those watching the game from afar. It will likely create plenty more. Celtic were the winners on the afternoon; neither set of supporters was better than the other in the grand scheme of things. Scottish football the biggest loser of all.
