Rangers confirmed their dominance in Scottish football with a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over city rivals Celtic, earning a place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals. The victory marked manager Derek McInnes's first success in an Old Firm encounter, and it was achieved in front of a packed Ibrox Stadium, albeit without any travelling supporters from the visiting side.
The match opened with Rangers imposing a high‑intensity, man‑for‑man press that left Celtic struggling to find rhythm. Early chances fell to both teams, but the decisive moments came from captain Dan Neil and the newly signed Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy. Neil opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, calmly slotting a low drive into the bottom corner after a well‑timed run and a neat one‑two with fellow attackers Ryan Naderi and Kelsy.
The goal reflected Rangers' fluid attacking patterns, built on quick passing and intelligent movement in the final third. Just before halftime, Kelsy, who had arrived at the club for a reported £9.2 million on deadline day, made his Old Firm debut and rewarded the faith shown in him. After a flick‑on from Naderi at the far post, Kelsy met the ball with a clean volley that flew past the Celtic keeper, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead.
The Venezuelan's goal not only put Rangers two goals clear but also marked his first official strike for the Glasgow side, underscoring the immediate impact of his signing. The third goal arrived with fifteen minutes remaining.
Neil, who had already found the net earlier, added a second for Rangers by striking from the edge of the box. His effort curled into the top corner, leaving the Celtic goalkeeper with no chance.
The double from the captain sealed the win and highlighted his importance as a midfield general capable of arriving late in the box to finish chances. Throughout the game, Celtic were unable to cope with the relentless pressure applied by the home side. Goalkeeper Johnstone made several notable saves, including a fingertip block to deny a close‑range header from Dujon Sterling and a reflex save from a powerful shot by Minsu Kim, but the defensive lapses in front of him proved costly. Celtic's attempts to break the press were sporadic, and when they did manage to create opportunities, they were either off‑target or neutralised by disciplined defending from Rangers.
Tactically, McInnes deployed left‑back James Penrice in a more advanced role, effectively turning him into a supplemental midfielder. This adjustment helped flood the centre of the pitch with Rangers players, allowing the team to press Celtic in tight quarters and dominate possession. Wing‑backs Djeidi Gassama and Minsu Kim supplied width, while the midfield trio of Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya formed a compact three‑man block that out‑numbered Celtic's central midfielders. The strategy forced Celtic's playmaker Callum McGregor into isolation, stripping him of the support he needed to dictate the tempo.
The win not only propels Rangers into the semi‑finals, where they will face Aberdeen on the weekend of October 31‑November 1, but also sends a clear message to the rest of the league about the team's ambitions under McInnes. The manager praised his side's performance, stating, "I'm delighted with the performance of so many today. We didn't have a failure and that's what it takes to win; it's a good reference for us going forward." He added that the team must now shift focus to the upcoming league fixtures while preparing for the semi‑final showdown.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, on the other hand, acknowledged the defeat as a wake‑up call. He admitted that his side were "second best" on the day and highlighted the importance of the Old Firm fixture for fans and the broader football community. O'Neill also pointed out that Celtic missed several clear chances in the first half and will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next league match and a midweek cup tie.
Key moments of the match can be summarised as follows: - 23' – Dan Neil scores the opening goal after a well‑executed link‑up with Ryan Naderi and Kevin Kelsy. - 49' – Johnstone makes a crucial save to deny Minsu Kim. - 59' – Kevin Kelsy equalises his miss from the first half by smashing a Penrice cross into the net for his first Rangers goal. - 76' – Dan Neil doubles his tally with a curling strike into the top corner, sealing the 3‑0 win.
Statistically, Rangers completed a higher number of passes in the final third, enjoyed greater possession, and executed more successful tackles than Celtic, reflecting the effectiveness of McInnes's game plan. The aggressive pressing style, combined with strategic positional adjustments, forced Celtic into a defensive shell and limited their ability to build attacks from the back.
Looking ahead, Rangers will travel to Aberdeen for the semi‑final, a match that promises to be a stern test given the absence of travelling support from their own fans. Meanwhile, Hearts have been drawn against Hibernian in the other semi‑final, setting up an intriguing conclusion to the competition. In post‑match interviews, McInnes highlighted the collective effort and the importance of maintaining the momentum: "The game demanded our full attention today; it demanded a big performance and I'm delighted that we've managed to deliver that.
You see the strength of the club today, both off the pitch and on the pitch, and I think it does my players no harm at all." He also emphasized the broader significance of the win for the club's supporters and the growing reputation of Rangers in Scottish football. Celtic's O'Neill concluded with a measured assessment, noting that the team will need to learn from the defeat: "We'll have to try and learn from it. We play next Sunday. We've got a midweek game.
Hopefully it's a wake‑up call to look at myself for a start. Then I look at the team.
We were second best. Did Rangers surprise me? No. I think they're strong.
I think they're physically strong. So it'll be a big test for us next Sunday again in every aspect."