Glasgow Cup semi-final

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Rangers Training Centre

RANGERS B… 2

(McCausland 32 & McKinnon 77)

CELTIC B… 2

(Johnston 12 & Summers 65)

Rangers win 5-4 on penalties.

The Celtic B team fell at the semi-final stage of the Glasgow Cup after a penalty shootout defeat in the Glasgow Derby.

The Celts looked set to book a place in the final after Mikey Johnston opened the scoring in the first-half and then Ben Summers put the B team back into the lead in the second-half, but a late equaliser forced penalties where the Bhoys would eventually fall.

The Celts got off to the perfect start inside 12 minutes and it was one of the more senior figures in Johnston who opened the scoring.

Karamoko Dembele was instrumental to the move as he fed Johnny Kenny down the right channel and the Irish striker’s low cross was met by the onrushing Johnston to tap in from close range.

Tommy McIntyre’s team were playing with confidence as they looked to add to their advantage, with Ben Wylie going close on 22 minutes but his toe-poke just deflected wide.

Tobi Oluwayemi was tested for the first time minutes later, as Charlie McCann sent a powerful shot on goal from distance, but the Celtic keeper reacted well to keep it out of his bottom left corner.

On 32 minutes, the England Under 19 international was undone as Rangers found the equaliser. Left-back Robbie Fraser picked out Ross McCausland on the edge of the box and the midfielder slammed a side-foot volley into the bottom right corner to level the score.

The goal didn’t derail the Hoops momentum as they continued to push forward to get back in front, with Kenny firing an effort from a tight angle into the side netting on 35 minutes after brilliant footwork from Johnston and Dembele to set up the chance.

Wylie was next to go close again two minutes later, this time jinking onto his right foot from the left of the box and his curling effort was well saved by Lewis Budinaucakas, to send the sides into the break level.

In the opening 10 minutes of the second period, both sides looked hungry to get their noses in front, as Adam Devine went close for Rangers before Mackenzie Carse forced Budinauckas into a fine stop.

Tommy McIntrye looked to the bench for inspiration and three minutes after entering the field, Ben Summers made an immediate impact to put Celtic back into the lead on 65 minutes.

The goal came from the brilliant quality of Dembele, who skipped past his marker on the halfway line and then powered his way towards the penalty box. The 19-year-old then had the composure to pick out Summers inside the box who stroked the ball home with a one-touch finish.

Then with 13 minutes to play, Rangers got back into the game. Charlie McCann played a delicate ball over the top of the Celtic defence and Cole McKinnon controlled and poked past the onrushing Oluwayemi.

That would see the match through as the game went to a penalty shootout to decide who would advance into the final of the Glasgow Cup.

After both teams successfully dispatched their first four spot-kicks, Wylie missed for Celtic giving McCann the chance to score and send Rangers into the final.

RANGERS: Budinauckas, Devine, Fraser, King, McClelland, Miller, Lowry, McKinnon, Weston (Ure), McCann, McCausland

Subs: Hogarth, Allen, Yfeko, Lindsay, Ritchie-Hosler, Lyall.

CELTIC: Oluwayemi, Dede (Corr), Paterson, Otoo, Jullien, Lawal (Letsosa), Dembele (Vata), Carse (Summers), Kenny (Brooks), Wylie, Johnston.

Subs: Morrison, Dawson.

Penalty shootout heartache for the Celtic B team in the Glasgow Cup