Surprise starter Daniel Cousin threaded a shot in at the thirty-seventh minute from a ridiculously tight angle to give Rangers a one goal margin. However Greek international Georgios Samaras leveled the score a few minutes later when he pounced on a bad clearance from Sasa Papac and slotted home a goal from five or so meters. The pace of the second half was hot and heavy and Kenny Miller gave the Rangers the lead again seven minutes after the break when he converted on a Charlie Adam cross. Pedro Mendes added to the lead when rocketed a shot past Artur Boruc to the bottom corner, who was having a uncharacteristically bad day, some twenty meters out at the sixty-second minute. By the seventy-sixth minute, tempers flared and both Daniel Cousin and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were shown red-cards. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s mental lapse was particularly costly as it was more of a retribution type when they had a one man advantage. At the seventy-ninth minute Artur Boruc’s nightmare day continued when he bobbled a volley and Kenny Miller netted the rebound for his second of the day. Deep into added time Shunsuke Nakamura struck a academy-lesson on how to strike a free-kick. To say it was a thing of beauty is an understatement.
This was a great victory for the Rangers and while this leaves them in a celebratory mood, they must remain composed and focus upon one match at a time. This is a long season and championships are not won in August.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Hutchinson 84), Nakamura, Hartley (Robson 72), Scott Brown, McGeady, Maloney, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Crosas, Loovens, O’Dea.
Sent Off: Vennegoor of Hesselink (76). Booked: McManus, Samaras.
Goals: Samaras 39, Nakamura 90.
Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Thomson, Adam (Novo 78), Cousin, Miller.
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Edu, Dailly, Lafferty, Niguez, McMillan.
Sent Off: Cousin (75). Booked: Thomson, Cousin, Adam, McGregor, Broadfoot.
Goals: Cousin 37, Miller 52, Pedro Mendes 62, Miller 79.
