Rangers celebrated a commanding 3-0 triumph over their Glasgow rivals Celtic, securing a place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals and giving manager Derek McInnes his first Old Firm victory. The win was highlighted by a brace from captain Dan Neil and a debut goal from recent £9.2 million acquisition Kevin Kelsy, who impressed the home crowd at a largely empty Ibrox Stadium. From the opening whistle, Rangers imposed an aggressive, man‑for‑man press that left Celtic scrambling for any foothold. The visitors were unable to generate clear-cut chances and ultimately suffered their first cup defeat in seven attempts against their city opponents.
Early chances fell to both Kelsy and fellow newcomer Minsu Kim, but neither could finish. It was Neil who finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a well‑timed run and a quick one‑two with the Rangers front duo of Ryan Naderi and Kelsy. The Venezuelan striker, Kelsy, added his own goal shortly after the interval.
After Naderi’s flick‑on reached him at the far post, Kelsy volleyed the ball past the Celtic keeper to make it 2‑0, marking his first goal for the club and cementing his status as a valuable investment. Neil completed the scoring in the 75th minute, driving a powerful shot from the edge of the area into the top corner to seal a 3‑0 victory.
Rangers now advance to a semi‑final clash with Aberdeen scheduled for the weekend of October 31–November 1, while Hearts will meet Hibernian in the other semi‑final. The match also featured several notable incidents that underscored the intensity of the encounter.
At the 4‑minute mark, Johnstone attempted a clearance that landed directly at Kelsy's feet; with the goalkeeper off his line, Kelsy struck, but his effort sailed wide. Sixteen minutes later, Johnstone again mishandled a ball, allowing Minsu Kim to unleash a shot that was cleared off the line by Celtic defender Scales.
The first goal came at 23 minutes when Carter‑Vickers failed to clear a danger, enabling Kelsy to feed Neil, who finished from the edge of the box. In the second half, Celtic’s goalkeeper Johnstone produced a crucial save at the 49th minute, denying Minsu Kim, followed by another at the 50th minute when he parried a close‑range header from Naderi.
Rangers restored their lead at 59 minutes when Kelsy, making amends for his earlier miss, smashed Penrice’s cross into the net for his inaugural Rangers goal. A brief controversy arose at 64 minutes when an off‑side goal was disallowed after Raskin’s touch was ruled illegal. Celtic’s attempts to respond were thwarted, including a missed effort by Hassan at the 72‑minute mark.
Neil’s second goal arrived at 76 minutes, a curling strike into the top corner that effectively sealed the tie. Post‑match analysis from Sky Sports’ Adam Binnie highlighted McInnes’s tactical setup. The manager deployed left‑back James Penrice in a quasi‑midfield role, creating numerical superiority in the centre of the park and facilitating the high‑press strategy.
Wing‑backs Djeidi Gassama and Minsu Kim provided width and relentless energy, while the midfield trio of Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya executed disciplined three‑versus‑three defending against Celtic’s attacking unit. This bold approach forced Celtic to fold under sustained pressure. Dan Neil’s performance stood out, as he effectively took on the midfield battle against Celtic’s playmaker Callum McGregor, who found himself isolated without a defensive partner.
McInnes’s side will now face the challenge of traveling to Aberdeen’s stadium without the support of traveling fans, a test that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as part of the Scottish Premiership schedule. A victory in that fixture would narrow the gap between the clubs to just two points. Rangers manager Derek McInnes praised his squad after the game, saying, "I’m delighted with the performance of so many today. We didn’t have a single failure, and that’s what it takes to win.
It gives us a good reference point moving forward. The game demanded our full attention and a big performance, and I’m thrilled we delivered. The strength of the club, both on and off the pitch, is evident, and it’s a great reference for the players and everyone involved." He also emphasized the importance of building on the positive momentum while preparing for the upcoming semi‑final. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill admitted his side were outplayed, noting, "We were well beaten in the end.
In the first half we failed to capitalize on a couple of decent chances after breaking their press. We were second best today. It’s a wake‑up call for us, and we need to learn from it as we look ahead to next Sunday’s match and the mid‑week game after that.
Rangers are physically strong, and they will be a big test for us again." The victory not only advances Rangers in the cup but also serves as a statement of intent in the league campaign, reinforcing McInnes’s philosophy of high pressing, tactical flexibility, and the integration of new signings like Kelsy into the team’s attacking framework. As the season progresses, both clubs will look to fine‑tune their squads, with Rangers hoping to translate cup success into consistent league performances, while Celtic aim to regroup and respond to the setbacks highlighted by O’Neill.
The upcoming semi‑final against Aberdeen promises another intense showdown, and fans can anticipate a closely contested match as the Scottish football calendar continues to heat up.