Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic maintained their six-point lead in the standings ahead of crosstown rivals Rangers as both settled for a point each in the Championship group.
Celtic 1-1 Rangers
Rangers scored in the second half to cancel out an earlier strike from Celtic as the heated rivals ended up sharing the points at Celtic Park.
Cameron Carter-Vickers went the distance for the Hoops, completing 98 percent of his passes and winning three duels. On the other side, James Sands watched all of the action from the bench.
With only six points separating the two teams, the final derby between these two teams for the season was going to determine the fate of the league title with only a few games left.
The visitors started the game strongly and nearly silenced the crowd when Ryan Kent connected on a cross into the area from James Tavernier. However, his effort missed the target.
Celtic found their footing and opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Daizen Maeda’s cross into the six-yard box found Jota who steered it home.
That goal boosted the home side’s confidence as they pushed for more in the first half. Jota had a chance to add a second on the day, but his header went over the target. Maeda would be next to have a chance, but he couldn’t put his header at the goal as he was under pressure from Rangers’ goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Celtic’s missed chances kept Rangers in the game and they were able to level the score in the 67th minute. Fashion Sakala found the back of the net after getting teed up by Kent.
Rangers then had a few chances to steal it. Sakala put a wicked shot on target that forced goalkeeper Joe Hart to push it over the bar. The former England national team player had to make another save from Scott Arfield strike.
An intense game, but barring any catastrophes in the remaining three games, the Premiership title should return to Celtic.
Notes
In other action from Championship Group, Joe Efford came on to play 26 minutes for Motherwell in their 1-0 loss to an Ian Harkes-less Dundee United.
In the Relegation Group, Christian Ramirez played 68 minutes while Dante Polvara watched from the bench as Aberdeen came away with a 1-0 win Dundee.
Sebastian Soto came off the bench in stoppage time while Christopher Mueller watched on from the bench in Livingston’s 1-0 win over Hibernian.
Down in League Two, Andrew Barrowman played 58 minutes for Cowdenbeath in their 1-0 defeat to Albion Rovers.
Brian Schwake was rested as Edinburgh City was thrashed by Stirling Albion in a 5-0 loss.
