Igamane nets winner as Rangers win dramatic derby at Celtic Park

Hamza Igamane scored a late winner to give Rangers a 3-2 win over rivals Celtic in a thrilling derby that had seen the hosts fight their way back from two goals down.

Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande had given Rangers a half-time lead but Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate scored to bring Celtic level before Igamane’s winner.

The goal gave Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson a victory in his first derby, while for Brendan Rodfgers it was a second successive Old Firm defeat following the 3-0 setback at Ibrox in January,

Rangers had enjoyed a dramatic conclusion to their Europa League tie on Thursday, when a penalty shoot-out win saw off Fenerbahce, and they followed that with an explosive start to the derby.

They pinned Celtic back from the start and had the lead within four minutes. James Tavernier swung a corner in to the near post and Nico Raskin beat Jeffrey Schlupp to the ball, flicking his header across goal and past Kasper Schmiechel and into the net.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the first half, pressing high and trying to cut off delivery to Celtic’s front three, and they added to their lead after 37 minutes.

Raskin was the provider this time, rising in the box to nod on a cross that fell to Mohamed Diomande, who took a touch before sliding his finish past Schmeichel to make it 2-0.

Brendan Rodgers made a change at half-time, taking off Nicholas Kuhn for Adam Idah and moving Daizen Maeda out wide but the in-form Japanese attacker didn’t lose any of his attacking threat from the switch and pulled a goal back just after the restart.

Celtic worked the ball to Jota on the right and the winger hit the byeline before lifting a cross to the back post. Maede got up above James Tavernier and Dujon Sterling to plant a header past Jack Butland and into the net.

The hosts took visible encouragement from the goal and drove on in search of a leveller. It came after 74 minutes.

Luke McCowan, in for the injured Callum McGregor, threaded a ball through the Rangers back line and Reo Hatate hit a smart shot across Butland and into the opposite side of the goal.

Both sides turned to their bench for energy in the hope of finding a winner and it was a Rangers substitute who made the difference.

Hamza Igamane collected the ball and evaded the attention of Celtic’s defenders before hitting a shot from the edge of the box that rifled past Schmeichel and sparked wild celebrations from the away support.

Celtic pushed to get level again and had one last chance in the fourth minute of injury time when Alistair Johnston shot over at the back post but Rangers held on for back-to-back derby wins and a second reason to celebrate in a memorable win.