Martin O’Neill won his first Old Firm game in charge of Celtic in over 20 years as they beat ten-man Rangers 3-1 after extra time to reach the Scottish League Cup final.
Goals from Jonny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmond cost Danny Roll his first derby loss, with his side having to play more than 80 minutes with a man down as Telo Asgore was sent off in the first half.
O’Neill returned to the club as interim boss on Monday following the shock resignation of Brendan Rodgers, and has now won 17 of his 28 matches against Rangers.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill would love to be in charge of the December final
The cup holders will return to the National Stadium on December 14 to face St Mirren in the final.
The story of this was always going to be one of two very different managers, neither of whom we expected to be in the dugout when the draw was made.
O’Neill, more than twice his colleague’s age, was successful in the first period. Celtic were exciting, direct and relentless, the hallmarks of his great teams of the past.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Celtic defender Anthony Ralston talks about the challenge of Rangers red card Tel Asgore
The reigning champions started on the front foot and thought they had opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Nasser Djiga’s attempted clearance took a comical deflection off Nick Raskin and ended up in his own net. However, VAR spotted offside in the build-up to spare his blushes.
Celtic eventually took the lead six minutes later when Jonny Kenny headed in at the front post from an Arne Engels corner.
Johnny Kenny celebrates the goal that sent them past Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final
With Celtic on top, a comeback looked even more unlikely when Telo Asgor was shown a red card in the 39th minute for shoving Anthony Ralston in the thigh.
Thelo Aasgaard leaves the field after being shown a red card
Celtic may have been lucky not to have been reduced to 10 men before half-time when Austin Trusty’s foot caught Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland’s head, but VAR did not intervene.
Celtic’s Auston Trusty is booked for a late tackle on Jack Butland
However, Rangers returned to the second period refreshed and renewed after switching from a back five to a back four. Celtic, as expected, remained in control, just not with the same level of fluidity.
They were eventually made to pay for a series of missed chances when Rangers captain James Tavernier equalized from the penalty spot nine minutes from time.
James Tavernier celebrates the equalizer for Rangers
Rohl’s Rangers dug in and took the game into extra time, but it only lasted three minutes before Celtic were back in the lead.
Captain McGregor powered home a long-range strike, before substitute Osmond headed home Kieran Tierney’s cross to score his first senior goal in the 109th minute.
The year is 2025 and Martin O’Neill’s Celtic have beaten Rangers again.
O’Neill: I feel like 94 after that!
Interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has won his 28th Old Firm in charge
Celtic temporary boss Martin O’Neill speaking with Premier Sports:
“I was 73 on Monday – now I’m 94!
“I’m delighted we won, to begin with. I thought we played a great 11v11 and then we lost momentum. Rangers came into the game, had a good spell 10v11, when they actually controlled the game for a while. But we missed some great chances in the match, and if we might have taken them, we might have won.”
“Part of me was enjoying it, believe it or not! Sometimes I thought we’d have a little break and then Casper would catch it and quickly throw it to someone who’s totally freaked out. But either way, it was a great effort and I’m delighted.
“I’m not going to take any credit. We’ve got some young players who probably don’t know what they’re about, and we’ve got some streak winners in there, and that’s really important. The backroom staff has been great.”
On Osmand: “He’s very sharp. He’s really good. I didn’t know anything about him until Monday and I thought he was great.
“It’s just that sometimes, as a centre-forward, you have to catch the ball and not hit it all the time. He wants to take some Henrik (Larsson) DVDs. He’s got enough confidence.”
On whether he will be in charge of the final: “I don’t even know when the final is. There’s a two-week break at the end of next week when I think the club would try to get someone in.”
On whether he likes the job: “You might ask me that tomorrow. Today, not.”
Osmand: The best day of my life
Callum Osmond celebrates after Celtic’s third goal
Celtic goal scorer Callum Osmond speaking with Premier Sports when he reached his first final for the club:
“The feeling is amazing. There are no words to describe today. It will be the craziest day of my life ever.
“There is nothing that can top this unless you score against them in the final.
“This is the best day of my life.”
On O’Neill’s influence: “From day one, he just talked to me and said he thinks very highly of me. The staff thinks highly of me, and that just gives you the boost you need.”
“Under both managers, they both pushed me, but Martin just gave me that confidence when he came in. He gave me confidence. That’s all you need from a manager. It only takes one person to believe in you and then push you on.
“Hopefully this is just the beginning for me, but obviously I have to keep building and keep going.”
Gers boss Rohl ‘loved the spirit’ of his 10-man squad
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rangers manager Danny Rohl was looking for positive results despite the defeat to Celtic
Rangers head coach Danny Roehl speaking with Premier Sports:
“Of course we are disappointed with this defeat today. I have to say that I liked the spirit after the red card, my team really fought until the end, put in a lot of effort and had good chances to equalize again.”
“A lot of work defensively. We couldn’t win today and that’s disappointing for us, but I’ll take the spirit from the group.”
“I made a change at half-time; we wanted more attacking players and we played 4-3-2 because I wanted pressure on the ball with two guys up front. It was for me, with these defensive guys and the high line, we had opportunities.
“During the second half we had good moments in this direction, then in extra time, there were a lot of runs, and then they worked well; they kept the ball a little more in the areas, and sometimes it was difficult.
On Asgaard’s Red: “I’ll have to look at it. I think it’s the referee’s decision, it’s not my honor to discuss. If it’s a red card, then it’s a red card – I don’t know yet.
“It’s a long, long time in a game like that when you go again with 10 players for 60 minutes, then extra time. We rallied hard to come back and score a well-deserved equaliser, and then they won 3-1.”
About the character: “I see a team that is really willing, that has a great spirit, is putting everything in. Since the last away game in Bergen (Bran), a huge step forward has been made. There is no question mark.
“My players have done everything I have asked of them and I think that is good to see. This is the basis that we have to do and I am very confident, if we go in this direction again and again, we will turn a lot of results in our direction.”