Scottish Premiership
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

RANGERS… 0

CELTIC… 1
(Kyogo 45+2)

Celtic secured victory in the first derby of the season with a hard-fought but thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

The winning goal came in stoppage time of the first-half as Kyogo netted with a wonder strike to bring all three points back to Paradise.

It seals Brendan Rodgers’ return to this fixture with a win and puts Celtic to the top of the table heading into the international break.

The one thing that is generally expected from a derby match is a fast start, although apart from a goal that was yards offside inside the first minute that was turned into the Celtic net by Rabbi Matondo, there wasn’t much to report.

That was until the 16^th minute when Celtic had their first real opportunity of the half. The outstanding Callum McGregor picked out the run of Liel Abada down the right wing and the winger found Kyogo inside the box, but with the ball slightly behind the striker he couldn’t flick it on target.

Cyriel Dessers had a half-chance for the hosts five minute later, but it was Kyogo again with the next big chance on the 25^th minute.

Matt O’Riley was the man to find the run of Kyogo behind the defence and his shot beat Jack Butland but a sliding Connor Goldson blocked the ball with his body before the danger was cleared.

There was a moment of concern for Celtic when Kemar Roofe scored on the 28^th minute, but rightfully, VAR came into play and called for a foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke from Cyriel Dessers in the lead-up to the goal.

Celtic were playing the better football and looked the more threatening side with the ball on the ground, with the home team reverting to long balls forward which the defence of Lagerbielke, Greg Taylor, Liam Scales and Alistair Johnston were dealing with.

Then in the second minute of the injury-time, Kyogo produced a moment of individual brilliance to open the scoring for Celtic and send Ibrox into complete silence.

A long ball from Joe Hart was headed clear by Goldson, but only as far as Matt O’Riley who sent a header forward.

Kyogo quickly latched on to the ball over the top and unleashed an absolute rocket of a volley from 20 yards out which arrowed right into the bottom left corner.

It was a goal that summed up Kyogo’s clinical instincts and gave the Hoops a half-time lead.

Kyogo strikes as Brendan Rodgers masterminds another win at Ibrox