Celtic claw back draw after rampant Rangers run out of gas - Hearts are the big winners

Rangers raced into a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to a double from striker Youssef Chermiti, the first of which was a spectacular overhead kick. The hosts threatened to run away with the match, but Celtic responded after the break and netted through Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate.

Both Glasgow teams have fallen further behind Hearts in the title race. Rangers are in second place, six points behind the Jam Tarts, with Celtic two points adrift of them in third. Martin O’Neill’s side have a game in hand over their rivals and play that on Wednesday night against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Rangers took the lead in sensational fashion just eight minutes in. Andreas Skov Olsen chipped in a cross into the Celtic penalty box and Chermiti strode in unmarked. With the ball high and slightly behind him, the Portuguese showed great athleticism and power to sweep a bicycle kick beyond helpless goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. It was a goal that had Ibrox rocking.

Rangers drove forward with Celtic on the ropes and added a second on 26 minutes. Visiting defender Dane Murray swiped at a clearance and the ball went in behind his teammate Julian Araujo. The Mexican had his pocket picked by Chermiti, who cushioned a neat finish beyond Sinisalo.

Rangers dominated the rest of the half but could not find another goal. It came back to haunt them.

Celtic were much better in the second half. The set about wiping out the two-goal deficit and found the net on 57 minutes when Tierney placed a header beyond Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland after a good cross from Benjamin Nygren.

All the momentum was with Celtic. Rangers had emptied in the final third of the pitch. Daizen Maeda, Hatate and Luke McCowan all missed good chances before the visitors were awarded a penalty on 89 minutes.

The decision came after a VAR review. Referee John Beaton was advised to look over an incident where Maeda’s header struck Emmanuel Fernandez’s arm before being saved by Butland. While the keeper saved Hatate’s penalty and then the first rebound, the Japanese bundled the ball home at the third time of asking to ensure a share of the spoils.

The two teams meet again next Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.