City of Glasgow Cup
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Hummel Training Centre, Glasgow

RANGERS…1
(Dickson 86)

CELTIC…1
(Connell 34)

CELTIC were denied a City of Glasgow Cup win against Rangers when they conceded a late equaliser, which came courtesy of a deflection.

It was a cruel blow for the young Hoops side, who had taken a first-half lead through Luca Connell and then had to play over half-an-hour with 10 men following Ewan Henderson’s dismissal after the midfielder had picked up two yellow cards.

As with every derby fixture, this cup-tie was a fiercely contested affair, and it was Rangers who pushed forward in the early stages of the game, testing Ryan Mullen in the Celtic goal, with the keeper producing a great save on 11 minutes to prevent a goal.

On 18 minutes, Henderson was denied by a save from the Rangers goalkeeper following his effort from a free-kick and then, just a minute later, the woodwork twice came to Rangers’ rescue as first Connell and then Liam Burt saw their efforts hit the post and crossbar respectively.

Having settled into the game, Tommy McIntyre’s side pushed forward in search of the opener and that duly arrived on 34 minutes.

Karamoko Dembele was the provider, surging forward with the ball before slotting it into the path of Connell, who made no mistake with a powerful shot.

Into the second-half and Rangers pushed forward in search of equaliser, but the Celtic defence remained resolute, and Kieran McGrath came close to doubling Celtic’s lead with a shot that was well-saved.

That chance was sandwiched in between two yellow cards for Ewan Henderson, who was sent off on 56 minutes, and it meant the 10 men of Celtic having to dig in to deal with pressure from the home side, with Mullen performing well in goal for the Celts.

However, on the break, the Hoops still looked dangerous and Cameron Harper, on as a replacement for McGrath, was denied on 71 minutes when his effort was saved.

Celtic came close again through Barry Coffey, while Mullen produced two great saves to deny the home side an equaliser.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do with four minutes of the match remaining when a speculative shot from Ciaran Dickson ended up in the back of the net via a deflection to make it 1-1.

CELTIC: Mullen, Church, Paterson, Hjelde, Deas, Robertson, Karamoko (Oko-Flex 89), Connell (Coffey 69), McGrath (Harper 60), Henderson, Burt (Savoury 89).
Subs: Hughes, McKay, Murray

Late goal denies 10-man Celts deserved City of Glasgow win