Celtic take the trophy to scotch ideas of power shift
SUGGESTIONS that the balance of power in Scottish football might be tilting back towards the south side of Glasgow appear to have been exaggerated.
For all Michael Beale has unquestionably improved Rangers since taking charge in November, they were found wanting in their quest to loosen Celtic’s grasp on the Viaplay Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side deservedly retained the first trophy the Australian won for the club last season.
Nine points clear at the top of the Premiership, you would get a short price on the Celtic manager at least repeating the two-trophy haul he achieved last term. A clean sweep of domestic honours is still very much on the cards.
Celtic were not at their freeflowing best at Hampden, but were good enough to see off an opponent who seemed to wake up too late.
Kyogo Furuhashi had not scored a goal against Rangers until he struck towards the end of the 2-2 draw at Ibrox last month. The Japan forward now has three to his name in this fixture.
Turning home crosses either side of the interval, Furuhashi set Celtic on their way to a seventh League Cup in nine seasons and a 21st overall.
It was only when Alfredo Morelos halved the deficit soon after that Rangers looked like threatening that remarkable run of success. But Beale’s side just did not have the wit in the final third to take the contest the distance. A first loss for their manager since returning to the club will come with significant regret.
Postecoglou had predicted a Hampden classic but, in truth, it was an error- strewn affair with quality at a premium.
Furuhashi had hardly been seen until he latched on to Alistair Johnston’s ball over the top midway through the first half, but Allan McGregor defied his advancing years to win the foot race. The veteran Rangers keeper also did well to get a firm hand to Jota’s flashing strike.
Beale had clearly encouraged his players to hit long diagonal balls to Fashion Sakala. The winger’s pace regularly brought him into promising positions, only for the end product to be sadly lacking. When positioned more centrally, Sakala looked set to sweep his side in front from James Tavernier’s cross, but the intervention of Cameron CarterVickers was decisive.
Furuhashi’s threat became more apparent as the game wore on. He fired a chip just over after sterling work by Jota, then sent a header the same way when picked out by Johnston.
Arriving a minute before half- time, Celtic’s opener was brilliantly worked. It stemmed from Reo Hatate having enough time and poise to pick out Aaron Mooy.
Threaded between two Rangers defenders, the Australian’s pass was perfectly weighted for Greg Taylor. Daizen Maeda’s swipe at the full back’s cross saw him catch nothing but fresh air and the lurking Furuhashi was never going to make the same mistake, lashing home from five yards.
Rangers ought to have levelled straight after the restart. Malik Tillman released Ryan Kent and the winger’s shot across Joe Hart struck the outside of the post and presented Sakala with a gift. But he fired tamely into the side netting and Rangers would quickly rue that moment.
A cheap turnover of possession by skipper Tavernier allowed Callum McGregor to find Mooy. This time Hatate provided the cross, with Furuhashi sliding the ball home for the second.
Rangers badly needed something to happen quickly and a free-kick for handball against Johnston proved to be their route back into the game.
Tavernier’s delivery was poorly dealt with by Celtic’s defence and Morelos scrambled the ball in from six yards.
Rangers were better after the introduction of Nicolas Raskin, without creating the gilt- edged opportunity which might have taken the game to extra time.
Sead Haksabanovic, twice, and Matt O’Riley missed late opportunities to settle the issue for Celtic, but it did not matter. Under Postecoglou, they remain the team to beat.