You are in > manchester.com  > News > Last-minute strike helps Celtic win Old Firm derby

General Sport

Last-minute strike helps Celtic win Old Firm derby

16/04/2008

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored a last-minute header to help Celtic win the Old Firm derby against Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead.

Gordon Strachan's men have now cut the gap to Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership to one point – although Rangers still have two games in hand.

The Bhoys deserved their victory having created the majority of the chances over 90 minutes, while the amount of matches Rangers have played recently appeared to catch-up with them.

Shunsuke Nakamura gave Celtic the lead in the first half before Nacho Novo levelled things midway through the second period.

Celtic missed a penalty after Carlos Cuellar had handled in the area, but Vennegoor of Hesselink lifted the roof off Parkhead when he nodded home Scott McDonald's cross in injury-time.

Like most matches between Rangers and Celtic the pace was relentless throughout the 90 minutes, making it hard for either side to craft chances.

However, 15 minutes into the match Celtic managed to edge in front when Nakamura latched-on to an attempted clearance. He rifled an impressive curling shot past Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal from 25-yards out.

Rangers were finding chances hard to find and when they did create shooting opportunities their strikers snatched at the chances.

The league leaders started the second half in better form and were soon rewarded when Novo raced clear and slotted the ball past Artur Boruc from an acute angle.

Celtic continued to pressure the Rangers goal and should have put themselves in front when Cuellar was sent off for handling Nakamura's goal-bound shot.

However, McGregor made a fine save to deny McDonald from the spot and kept the visitors in the match.

The game looked to be heading for a draw only for Vennegoor of Hesselink to appear at the far post to notch the decisive blow as time expired.