Celtic 1-1 Rangers: Hosts closer to 52nd title after thrilling Old Firm derby draw
- Published
Jota (left) broke the deadlock after 20 minutes
Celtic inched closer to a 52nd Scottish title despite being held to a draw at home by nearest challengers Rangers.
Ange Postecoglou's side stay six points clear with only three games remaining and with a near insurmountable 19-goal advantage over the Premiership holders.
Celtic overcame early Rangers pressure to take the lead through Jota's close-range finish.
With the visitors looking out on their feet, Fashion Sakala fired them level to prolong the title race.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst had gone into the game admitting that it was a must-win game for his Rangers side, who are between legs in their Europa League semi-final with RB Leipzig.
Now unbeaten in 29 league games since September, Postecoglou's side effectively only need three points from their three remaining games - at home to Heart of Midlothian and Motherwell and away to Dundee United - to officially secure Celtic's 10th title in 11 years.
Rangers had turned the tables on their Glasgow rivals to win last month's Scottish Cup semi-final to ensure there would be no domestic treble for the League Cup winners and champions elect.
Van Bronckhorst, though, faced a dilemma of whether to make wholesale changes ahead of Thursday's attempt to overcome a 1-0 deficit with Leipzig.
Bringing in Scott Arfield, Steven Davis and Sakala for Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright was enough fresh legs to allow Rangers to establish an early edge.
It should have led to an opening goal when Ryan Kent stole in front of Anthony Ralston to meet a James Tavernier cross but could not find the target from 10 yards.
Celtic were shaken but showed Rangers how it should be done after a similar move minutes later as forward Daizen Maeda's cross into the six-yard box found Jota darting in front of Borna Barisic at the back post to prod home.
Jota had a great chance to add to his 12th goal of the season when found free inside the penalty box by Reo Hatate's through ball, but this time the on-loan Benfica winger headed wastefully over.
With Rangers looking increasingly hesitant, the unmarked Maeda also missed a golden opportunity as he headed clear from five yards from a Jota chip.
A Sakala header struck Matt O'Riley's back in front of goal and Connor Goldson shot wastefully over as Rangers started the second half as they had the first, while Maeda again scooped over at the other end.
Just when Rangers' heavy European schedule looked to be catching up with them, Kent set up Sakala for a low drive inside goalkeeper Joe Hart's near post.
Almost immediately, another Sakala drive stung Hart's fingertips and the Zambia striker should have done better than head over from 12 yards.
A late Hart double save from Scott Arfield and Kent, then a Sakala shot against the inside of a post, denied Rangers the victory they needed to really revive the title race.
Man of the match - Fashion Sakala
Fashion Sakala (right) not only scored Rangers' equaliser but came close to securing a comeback win
What did we learn?
The Old Firm rivals are all square with two victories apiece in five derbies this season, but it is Celtic who did enough when it came to the Premiership crunch and are all but home and dry as champions.
There's been a 10-point swing in their league fortunes since Van Bronckhorst took over from Steven Gerrard in November, but even under the Englishman they dropped home points against Motherwell, Hearts and Aberdeen as they failed to capitalise on Celtic's early struggles under new manager Postecoglou.
Once the Australian stabilised that domestic form into a relentless intensity, Rangers were unable to respond as they reserved their best performances for Europe and the Scottish Cup.
The latest draw emphasised the shift in momentum and has all but ended the Ibrox side's brief hold on the Premiership crown bar a late and unlikely Celtic collapse.
Van Bronckhorst will now concentrate on the Europa League before turning his attention to building a squad capable of regaining the title in his first summer transfer window as Postecoglou looks to capitalise on his second piece of Celtic silverware.
What they said
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "It was pretty intense, as you'd expect with so much on the line. We got our noses in front then had our best opportunities to kill the game off.
"We didn't take them and Rangers, to their credit, hung in there - they're a good side and we had to hold on at the end to get at least the draw we needed. We knew if we didn't win today we were still in a good position. A draw leaves us in a really good position."
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst on Sky Sports: "We needed to win to close the gap to three points. We did everything. I couldn't ask for more, especially in the second half.
"The only thing is, we didn't score the big chances we had. We had a good performance. Physically we looked strong as well. Now we have three days to prepare for Leipzig and we have to show the same intentions and character we showed today."
What's next?
Celtic next host third-placed Hearts on Saturday, while Rangers entertain Leipzig in Thursday's second leg of their Europa League semi-final before Dundee United are their next league visitors on Sunday.