The Old Firm Derby That Had Pretty Much Everything

By: Daryl | April 17th, 2008

Jan Ven of Hes scores Old Firm Winner The Old Firm Derby is always a big deal. You know that. But yesterday’s was even bigger because Celtic needed a win to keep alive any hope of catching Rangers at the top of the Scottish Prem. And Celtic got what they needed, in a game that had pretty much everything. Two great goals, a lost boot, a handball on the line, a red card, a penalty save and a last minute winner. Oh, and a big old fight at the final whistle.

For some reason no one has collected all this into one handy YouTube video (maybe the YouTubes aren’t ready for so much drama all at once?) But all of yesterday’s Old Firm action is out there somewhere in bits and pieces, so we’ve collected it below, in chronological order no less, for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYSWWQ5s8yk

First, there was this incredibly bendy outside of the boot goal from Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura to make it 1-0 in the 20th minute.

Then in the hunt for an equalizer, Rangers’ Jean-Claude Darcheville stayed onside but lost his shooting boot.

Excellently nicknamed Spanish striker Nacho Novo eventually made it 1-1 in the 55th minute when he struck this shot on the bounce ball from an almost impossibly wide angle.

Then things went mental in the 70th minute. Nacho’s fellow Spaniard Carlos Cuellar cheated/took one for the team (depending on who you support) by tipping another Nakaumura shot onto the bar. Nice save, but Cuellar’s not a keeper, so he got an early shower and Celtic got an important penalty. Scott McDonald stepped up to take it, but Rangers keeper Allan McGregor dived low and tipped it onto the post, injuring himself in the process.

Just when it couldn’t get any more dramatic, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – the biggest name in football, etc – headed home from close range in the 90th minute to give Celtic a 2-1 win and keep their title dreams alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvfX9Rs_Sc

And finally, the fight at full time. Started by the two captains no less. I’ll let the Setanta commentators talk you through what happens.

[About half of these vids were spotted on 101 Great Goals, so big hat tip to the fine folk over there]

So now Celtic are just one point behind Rangers in the SPL title race, thought they’ve played two game more so it’s very much in Rangers’ hands. Still, Celtic Offside blogger Matt was understandably ecstatic with the result. Rangers Offside is currently vacant, so if any ‘Gers fans out there want to put that right, please read our blogger guidelines and get in touch.