Rangers fans are commiserating after a devastating penalty kicks Premier Sports Cup Final defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic.
The Ibrox side were eventually defeated 5-4 on spot-kicks after Ridvan Yilmaz saw his tame penalty stopped by Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Daizen Maeda then fired the winning spot-kick past a helpless Jack Butland to see Celtic overtake Rangers’ world-record trophy haul of 118 major honours with the 119th trophy in their history.
The penalty shoot-out came after an enthralling 3-3 draw at Hampden, where Rangers took the lead in the game and eventually came from behind twice.
Here’s how the Rangers team rated as the Ibrox support are left heartbroken after an exhausting 120 minutes plus in Mount Florida.
Rangers player ratings v Celtic (Premier Sports Cup Final)
Jack Butland – 8
Jack Butland made some good early stops with the score at 0-0 and had an impressive command of his area throughout the match.
Also showed some excellent kicking which allowed his teammates to get in behind Celtic and time and again got down low to smother the ball.
Helpless for all three Celtic goals and didn’t stand a chance with the Parkhead side’s emphatic penalties. Scored a spot kick for Rangers.
James Tavernier – 7
Rangers fans expressed nerves around James Tavernier starting at Hampden with the Ibrox captain toiling against Celtic forward Daizen Maeda in recent matches.
Whilst Maeda would play a big role in the game, the Rangers captain performed admirably and positively up against the Japanese forward.
It was a committed, driven performance from Tavernier who might’ve quietly silenced a few critics in the match, even if Rangers leave Hampden empty handed.
Leon Balogun – 6
Came into the team in the place of John Souttar and made a decisive challenge on Daizen Maeda in the first half.
But the Japanese forward got the better of the Nigerian international in the second period to race forward and fire the Parkhead side in front.
Picked up an injury in the first-half and didn’t ever really recover from it and cut an at times unusually nervous figure at Hampden before being replaced by Dujon Sterling.
Robin Propper – 7
The Dutch defender continues to have his critics in the Rangers support but Robin Propper did redeem himself at times in the penalty kicks defeat to Celtic.
You can see that the Dutchman is a good natural defender and he dealt with most that Celtic threw at him throughout the game, marshalling Adam Idah following the Irish striker’s second half introduction.
But Propper still wants too much time on the ball and hasn’t quite found himself at Rangers. Plays within himself at times and we really missed John Souttar at Hampden.
Jefte – 6
Brazilian left-back Jefte has been one of the signings of the season and started the clash against Celtic in the same vein.
Hurrying attackers, getting forward and showing solid composure and creativity on the ball, Jefte is becoming a feature of the Rangers first-team.
But the 20-year-old showed signs of fatigue throughout and began to struggle heavily in the second half against Celtic attacker Nicolas Kuhn. Eventually hooked.
Nicolas Raskin – 8
Nicolas Raskin has been on tremendous form for Rangers in recent weeks and continued this into the Old Firm Final at Hampden.
Snapping into challenges, reading the play and being a genuine nuisance in the middle of the pitch, much of Rangers’ success in the game came through the energetic Belgian.
This would’ve maybe been a near perfect performance had it not been for the fact that, owing to being central to the game, Raskin was heavily involved in all three Celtic goals.
Raskin deflected Grey Taylor’s equaliser, got caught short with a header back to Balogun and was found miles out of position as Celtic broke for Kuhn’s third.
A real talent but lacked composure in crucial moments.
Mohamed Diomande – 8
Mohamed Diomande also put in a monumental shift in the middle of the Rangers midfield.
The Ivorian international is a top player technically but he can also cover ground and is growing by the match in his tactical discipline in Philippe Clement’s team.
Diomande has that quality of being able to find space and take the ball in tight areas and he once again shone in a combative and effective performance.
Drove the team on to get an equaliser and, having just had a wonderful effort saved by Schmeichel, held off Arne Engels to bundle the ball home and make it 2-0.
Nedim Bajrami – 5
Nedim Bajrami has blown hot and cold at Rangers and the Albanian international played a crucial role in getting Rangers in front.
Having snapped onto Greg Taylor’s loose square ball, Bajrami played in Igamane and followed in to tap the ball home into an empty net.
But for all the technical quality of the ex-Sassuolo star, the cutting edge and decision-making is consistently lacking.
Selfishly tried a long range shot as Rangers broke forward when he could’ve played in teammates and miraculously failed to find a teammate when the side were through 4 on 1.
These were two hugely costly moments in the context of the match and we reckon the Albanian has some making up to do.
Vaclav Cerny – 7
Czech winger Vaclav Cerny has been a constant presence in the Rangers side as of late and it is beginning to show.
The Wolfsburg loanee has real talent finding space out winding and drifting inside, but it wasn’t until Rangers had to dig in to get back into the game that we saw the best of him.
Stung Schmeichel’s palms with a low effort with Rangers 2-1 down and despite being exhausted continued to create throughout the game.
Put the ball on a plate for Danilo to equalise and get the score to 3-3 but never quite impacted the game as we’ve come to expect.
Should’ve had a penalty when he was hauled back by Liam Scales narrowly inside the penalty box in extra time.
Ianis Hagi – 7
Romanian playmaker Ianis Hagi put in one almighty shift out on the left wing to help Rangers on an energy-sapping afternoon at Hampden.
Hagi hasn’t played a lot of football in recent months but went to the well time and again in the match to fight his teams corner, get on the ball and make a difference.
Twice fluffed his lines in the first half when half chances presented themselves but did not hide at Hampden and was central to the Rangers play.
As has always been the case, sometimes Hagi just lacks that bit of quality in a crucial moment.
Hamza Igamane – 6
Hamza Igamane would’ve been every Rangers fans first pick to start against Celtic before the match and Philippe Clement gave the young Moroccan the nod.
But the Gers forward found himself up against it to fashion any real chance throughout the game, with Igamane’s finishing and ingenuity also falling victim fatigue.
Sent Cameron Carter-Vickers to the chip shop for Rangers’ opener but there was a hangover from his exploits v Tottenham Hotspur only a few days before.
Substitutions:
Ridvan Yilmaz – 4
Came on to replace the struggling Jefte and was caught out repeatedly when trying to knock the ball past the opposite wing-back.
Perhaps Ridvan Yilmaz was told to keep trying it, but it rarely came off, and although there was some composed defending at times the young Turk very much looked like a player returning from injury.
Had a half-chance after controlling a cross-field ball that he snatched at and fired over the bar.
Missed the decisive spot-kick with a very tame, low effort which was saved by Kasper Schmeichel before being consoled by Philippe Clement at the final whistle.
Dujon Sterling – 6
Asked to deputise for Leon Balogun at the centre of defence and performed admirably in a position which is unfamiliar to him.
Danilo – 6
The Brazilian came off the bench and proved an inspired substitution when he nodded Rangers back level just moments after the side had went 3-2 behind.
Cyriel Dessers – 3
Came on with the hope of providing fresh legs and was immediately yellow carded for a late tackle on Cameron Carter-Vickers. Utterly anonymous throughout. A dismal performance on an afternoon where he could’ve been the hero.
Connor Barron – 3
Came into the midfield engine room and had little time to properly impact the game.
Kieran Dowell – 3
A pointless substitution, Dowell came off the bench with an expectation to add energy but did very little to do so. Looks like he wants to be anywhere else, which makes his repeated inclusion very strange.
