Rangers and Celtic played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in the premiership at Ibrox on Sunday after Youssef Chermiti’s electrifying brace — including an overhead kick — was matched by a second-half Celtic fightback. Rangers led 2-0 at half-time following two lightning counters finished by Chermiti, but Celtic hit back through Kieran Tierney and a stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Reo Hatate. The result reshapes the title picture with nine fixtures remaining for Rangers and immediate implications for the race; updated 03/04/2026 22: 00 ET.
Expanding details: match moments and standings
The standout moment came early: Youssef Chermiti’s overhead kick opened the scoring and set the tone for his double, a performance that put Rangers firmly in control by the interval. Despite that commanding first half, Celtic clawed their way back in the second half — Kieran Tierney headed one back and Reo Hatate produced a dramatic late leveller after his spot-kick was initially saved and then bundled in from the rebound. The game finished 2-2 at Ibrox, and the immediate effect on the table is stark: with nine fixtures remaining for Rangers, Danny Rohl’s side are six points behind the Jambos and two ahead of Celtic, whose game in hand is a trip to Aberdeen on Wednesday night. The match drew fresh comparisons between Chermiti’s opener and other standout goals in recent Old Firm history, emphasising both the quality on display and the stakes in the premiership fight.
Immediate reactions
Martin O’Neill said: “I think today’s result – if you belong to Hearts – then you’ll think it’s a great result for them. But even so, we’re not out of it. If the game had ended at half-time, with our performance, we’d have thought ‘we’re a million miles off it’. Now by the end of the game, the manner that we played, particularly here at Ibrox, 2-0 down, we fight back. There’s still plenty of heart and desire to try and retain the championship. It’s just been a tough old struggle this season. We just have to try and dig it out. “
Danny Rohl, addressing questions about his team’s mentality, said: “No, I will not accept the [questions over] mentality, I think this is always easy. Everyone who played football knows during a game there is a story, there is a momentum for one team, for the second team. It’s about that we continue our performance over 95 minutes. If we do this then they would not have a chance to come back. “
Gordon Smith, former Rangers chief, reflected on Chermiti’s performance and future implications: “He’s definitely become a better player under Danny Rohl — there’s no doubt about that. His mentality looks different to the way it was when he first came into the club. He looks like he’s got so much more confidence and his manager deserves huge credit for that. Chermiti wasn’t doing it under Russell Martin. He was showing absolutely nothing and was missing simple changes. My comment was based on his previous record and the money Rangers were paying for him. His record before his arrival was bad and at that stage he wasn’t showing any potential. But he’s coming good. Those two goals on Sunday were probably two of the best Old Firm goals I’ve ever seen. “
What’s next
The premiership race moves straight on: Celtic have a game in hand away at Aberdeen on Wednesday night, while Rangers must navigate nine remaining fixtures with the gap to the leaders still open. Expect both teams to treat the coming weeks as decisive — managers have signalled no loss of belief and players will face intense scrutiny as the run-in continues. The immediate timeline to watch is Celtic’s trip to Aberdeen and how Rangers respond in their next fixture; those results will shape whether Chermiti’s two-goal display becomes a defining moment or a single, stunning chapter in a season-long title battle.
