Rangers defeated on penalties after six-goal thriller at Hampden

Celtic overcame Rangers 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following a pulsating 3-3 draw in the Premier Sports Cup final, witnessed by 49,420 fans at Hampden Park.

Daizen Maeda scored the decisive penalty after Kasper Schmeichel had earlier denied Ridvan Yilmaz, the only player to miss during the shoot-out.

Holders Rangers initially took the lead through Nedim Bajrami just before the break, but Celtic turned the match around, with Greg Taylor and Maeda giving Brendan Rodgers' side a 2-1 advantage by the hour mark.

Philippe Clement’s men responded through Mohamed Diomande, who equalised with 15 minutes remaining. However, the drama was far from over in what marked the 79th League Cup final.

Celtic appeared to have secured the trophy when Nicolas Kuhn swept home a goal with just three minutes left on the clock, but Rangers immediately replied through Danilo, whose header levelled the score at 3-3 a mere 60 seconds later.

For the first time since the 2013/14 final, extra time was required, but neither side managed to find a breakthrough, sending the match to penalties for the fifth time in the competition’s history.

Celtic’s Adam Idah, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Reo Hatate, and Maeda all converted their penalties, while James Tavernier, Ianis Hagi, Danilo, and Jack Butland scored for Rangers. In the end, it was Maeda’s decisive kick that ensured Celtic lifted the trophy in a thrilling encounter.