In a thrilling Old Firm derby, Celtic and Rangers put on a show filled with excitement, tension, and a bit of controversy. The Scottish Women’s Premier League match took place at New Douglas Park in Hamilton and it was a match to remember.
Rangers got off to a quick start, scoring a goal just four minutes into the game by Rio Hardy. But Celtic fought back, with Caitlin Hayes scoring the equalizer right before half-time, making it 1-1 at the break.
The second half saw even more drama unfold. Rangers took the lead again with a penalty kick awarded by referee Jamie Wilkie after a foul on Charlie Devlin by Shannon McGregor. Katie Wilkinson converted the penalty, much to the delight of the Rangers fans.
However, the decision to award the penalty was met with controversy, as replays showed minimal contact between McGregor and Devlin. This led to Celtic manager Elena Sadiku getting sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee’s decision in frustration.
Despite being down to 10 players, Celtic managed to equalize once again with a fantastic free-kick from Saoirse Noonan to make it 2-2. But Rangers ultimately secured the victory with a goal from Chelsea Cornet in the 78th minute.
This win puts Rangers four points ahead of Celtic in the league table. Sadiku was unable to speak to the media after the match due to her dismissal, so assistant manager David Haley shared his thoughts on the game. He mentioned that the team was disappointed with their first-half performance but showed improvement in the second half, creating chances and fighting until the end.
Overall, it was a thrilling match that showcased the fierce rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
