OLD FIRM PLAYER RATINGS: Kyogo Furuhashi was star man for the winners
OLD FIRM PLAYER RATINGS as Celtic beat Rangers 2-1: Kyogo Furuhashi was the star man for the Scottish League Cup winners, while midfielders John Lundstram and Malik Tillman let Michael Beale’s side down on the big day
- Kyogo Furuhashi’s two goals guided Celtic to cup final glory over Rangers
- The Japanese striker was the best player on the pitch, causing Gers problems
- Meanwhile, Michael Beale’s side were let down by a poor set of midfielders
Celtic secured the Scottish League Cup trophy with a 2-1 win over Rangers in an intense affair at Hampden Park on Sunday.
Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice to help the Bhoys win the trophy last season, and he repeated the feat with two tap-ins either side of half-time against the Gers.
While Rangers got one back through Alfredo Morelos’s strike just after the hour mark, the result brought an end to Michael Beale’s unbeaten start as manager.
It seemed that Beale’s midfield was letting the side down significantly against Celtic’s players in the middle of the park, while Kyogo was the best player on the pitch, causing problems before his goals, and up until his withdrawal on 75 minutes.
Read Sportsmail’s match ratings from Rangers 1-2 Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final:
Kyogo Furuhashi’s brace guided Celtic to a second consecutive Scottish League Cup trophy
RANGERS (4-3-3)
ALLAN MCGREGOR – 6.5 – Off his line to block Furuhashi then saved from Jota when scoreless. Denied O’Riley in the final moments.
JAMES TAVERNIER – 6.0 – Ibrox captain’s poor pass contributed to second concession but also supplied free-kick for Morelos to strike.
CONNOR GOLDSON – 5.5 – Troubled by Furuhashi’s clever movement as the Japanese striker proved impossible to pin down in two-goal display.
BEN DAVIES – 6.0 – Some decent distribution from defence at times, but Rangers backline were more often under pressure.
BORNA BARISIC – 6.5 – Tireless in forward advances on the left flank but couldn’t get in front of Furuhashi at second goal. Booked.
JOHN LUNDSTRAM – 5.0 – Recovered from injury to start, but never got properly going at the midfield base. Yellow card for fouling Mooy.
John Lundstram was one of the Rangers midfielders who struggled in the centre of the park
Malik Tillman overcame injury doubts to play in the final, but struggled to prove himself in play
MALIK TILLMAN – 5.0 – Another fitness doubt, he was too casual at times. Only a couple of trademark driving runs before being replaced.
GLEN KAMARA – 5.0 – Booked for a late slide on Hatate, the Finland international didn’t produce much else to hurt Celtic.
FASHION SAKALA – 5.5 – Claimed Rangers are ‘far better’ than Celtic but couldn’t capture more headlines. Botched chance after Kent hit post.
ALFREDO MORELOS – 6.0 – Minimal influence before pouncing smartly to get Rangers back in it. Clearly unhappy at being subbed for Colak.
Alfredo Morelos scored for Rangers, but was visibly frustrated at being later withdrawn
RYAN KENT – 6.0 – Low angled strike struck the base of the post during second half. Never reached his creative peak, though.
Substitutes: TODD CANTWELL (Lundstram 65), NICOLAS RASKIN (Kamara 65), RYAN JACK (Tillman 65), ANTONIO COLAK (Morelos 76), SCOTT WRIGHT (Sakala 84)
Substitutes not used: McLaughlin, Hagi, Arfield, Devine.
Manager: MICHAEL BEALE – 5.0 – Will face questions over team selection and waiting 65 minutes before making necessary midfield changes.
Michael Beale’s decision to leave substitutes until 25 minutes from time was questionable
CELTIC (4-3-3)
JOE HART – 6.5 – Little to do other than pick the ball out of the net after Morelos scored from close range.
ALISTAIR JOHNSTON – 7 – Defended well and one superb cross from the right flank should have been converted by Furuhashi. Booked.
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS – 7.5 – A fine performance, including one great block to stop a Tavernier cross being turned in by Sakala or Tillman.
CARL STARFELT – 7.5 – Strong defensive showing but a heart-in-mouth moment when he did a Cruyff turn in his own box.
GREG TAYLOR – 7 – Defended well and his quality delivery into the box for Furuhashi’s opener sent Celtic on their way to victory. Booked.
AARON MOOY – 7 – Impressed in midfield on his first start against Rangers but question marks over his defending when Morelos scored.
Aaron Mooy made his first start against Rangers, and did not look out of place for the Bhoys
Captain Callum McGregor was calm under pressure, and helped Celtic to lift the trophy
CALLUM MCGREGOR – 7.5 – The Celtic captain was typically calm under pressure on the day he lifted yet another trophy.
REO HATATE – 7.5 – At the heart of the action, covering every blade of grass, he unselfishly squared for Furuhashi’s winning goal.
JOTA – 6 – Portuguese winger forced one fine save from Allan McGregor but was not at his best. Replaced by Abada.
KYOGO FURUHASHI – 8 – Celtic talisman was the two-goal hero for the second successive League Cup final but should have bagged a hat-trick.
DAIZEN MAEDA – 6.5 – The energetic Japan international put in his usual hard working shift but his final ball often let him down.
Kyogo Furuhashi was the star man for the victors, twice pouncing from close range for goals
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side had to weather a late storm to secure the Viaplay Cup again
Substitutes: MATT O’RILEY(Mooy, 65), LIEL ABADA (Jota, 64) booked, TOMOKI IWATA (Hatate, 76), OH HYEON-GYU (Furuhashi, 76) booked, SEAD HAKSABANOVIC (Maeda, 84)
Substitutes not used: Bain, Turnbull, Kobayashi, Ralston.
Manager: ANGE POSTECOGLOU – 7.5 – Celtic weathered a brief second half storm from Rangers but the champions were worthy winners of the Viaplay Cup.
Referee: NICK WALSH – 7 – The match official got the one potentially controversial moment spot-on when booking Liel Abada for diving.
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