Extra-time own goal sinks Celtic and puts Rangers into Scottish Cup final

Rangers came from behind in the most dramatic fashion to beat Celtic 2-1 in extra time at Hampden Park to set up a Scottish Cup final meeting with Hearts. Rangers had edged the first half of a pulsating semi-final but there was little between the teams after the break until the 64th minute when Celtic left-back Greg Taylor fired in from the edge of the box.

Substitute Scott Arfield levelled in the 78th minute with a fine finish to take the game to extra time, the second time in four days for Rangers. As the game looked set for penalties, defender Carl Starfelt put through his own goal in the 114th minute with Rangers substitute Fashion Sakala in attendance to give Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side a memorable win and also deny Celtic the possibility of winning the domestic treble.

It was another memorable encounter between the two sides. While Celtic had a clear week to prepare for the game, Rangers had taken 120 gruelling minutes to overcome Braga in their Europa League quarter-final tie at Ibrox on Thursday night. Van Bronckhorst only made one change however, bringing in goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin for Allan McGregor. Ange Postecoglou brought in Liel Abada and played Daizen Maeda through the middle with Kyogo Furuhashi on the bench.

The national stadium was split 50-50 between blue and green and the game began in frantic fashion amidst a smog of smoke from flares at both ends. Rangers threatened first in the second minute, John Lundstram robbing Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate and Aaron Ramsey playing in Ryan Kent who shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Rangers came close in the 32nd minute when Starfelt gave possession away to Ryan Jack. The Celtic defender had to clear Kemar Roofe’s header from Borna Barisic’s cross away from