Rangers helped, coming back to draw 2-2 against Aberdeen to keep Celtic from clinching the Scottish Premiership title on the day they had it won. On a chilly, tense Sunday afternoon, the matchup began with DC United up two goals on aggregate. Even after being downed to ten men just minutes before halftime, they roared back with amazing heart and spirit.
Rangers entered the match with a significantly altered lineup, making nine changes as they prepared for their upcoming Europa League quarter-final second leg against Athletic Club. Because of that decision, the first half was a collectively disappointing performance. As a consequence, they were down 2-0 at the half.
First Half Struggles
Aberdeen took command right from the start of the game. When Leighton Clarkson – recently recalled from loan – smashed home a dipping free-kick in the 13th minute, the Seagulls were flying. Just seconds before the break, Pape Gueye made it 2-0 to Aberdeen in the 44th minute, leaving Rangers’ hopes hanging by a thread. It got a whole lot worse for the Rangers. It was the 40th minute when Ross McCausland earned a straight red card for a high and dangerous sliding tackle.
Barry Ferguson, the then Rangers manager, realised how much his team had been intimidated in that first half.
“Good comeback. It’s a recurring theme getting men sent off. I spoke to Ross (McCausland), you can’t be making mistakes like that when you’re on the booking. He had a couple of tackles, maybe I should have made the decision to substitute him.” – Barry Ferguson
Against the ropes, the Rangers had to turn the tide massively to have a chance at salvaging anything from this game.
A Remarkable Comeback
The second half featured a completely different Rangers team come running out through the tunnel. So they hit the ground running. Then just four minutes into the half, in the 49th minute, Hamza Igamane scored a game-winning goal. That goal sparked dreams of a comeback among the Rangers faithful and made for a thrilling finish.
With time running out, it looked as though Rangers would come up just short of an equalizer. In an unexpected twist, Ianis Hagi scored a sensational, curling shot from 25 yards to level the match in the 96th minute. The last-gasp equaliser from the Rangers scored them a valuable last point. This dramatic moment spoiled Celtic’s plans to celebrate clinching the title in this match.
“I’m never happy with a point but under the circumstances we have to take it.” – Barry Ferguson
Ferguson lauded his team’s spirit, highlighting their never-say-die attitude and aggression during a fast-paced, end-to-end game.
Looking Ahead
With this draw, Rangers have delayed Celtic’s title celebrations. For now, they can think only of the last-eight Europa League first leg they have coming up against Athletic Club. Ferguson emphasized that his squad’s top priority remains to just take things one step at a time, not looking ahead or past the next challenge.
Ianis Hagi shared his thoughts on the match, highlighting that their comeback was a testament to their desire to win.
“The team’s comeback showed how much we wanted to win the match.” – Ianis Hagi
The performance against Aberdeen showcased both the challenges and resilience of Rangers as they navigate through this critical period of their season. As they gear up for their rematch, everyone will be watching to see how they play after this epic battle.
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