RANGERS came from behind to beat Celtic in extra-time in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden today and end their Glasgow rivals' hopes of completing a domestic treble.  

A Greg Taylor goal, just his second for the Parkhead club, at a well-worked free-kick in the 64th minute gave Ange Postecoglou’s side the lead.

But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team fought back and levelled through substitute Scott Arfield 14 minutes later.  

The exciting encounter went to extra-time and the Ibrox club triumphed after Carl Starfelt turned a Calvin Bassey cross into his own net in the 114th minute.

Rangers, who last won the Scottish Cup in 2009, will play Hearts, who beat Hibernian in their semi-final yesterday, on May 21.

Van Bronckhorst made one change to the side that overcame Braga after extra-time at Ibrox on Thursday night to secure their place in the Europa League semi-finals; Jon Mcalaughlin came in for Allan McGregor in goals.

Mclaughlin had started the cup ties against Stirling Albion, Annan Athletic and Dundee. But those had been his only appearances in 2021 and this was a considerable step up in standard.

Van Bronckhorst had insisted that fatigue would not be an issue for his men. But was selecting the same 10 outfield players who had kicked off the match in midweek asking too much of them?

Postecoglou resisted the temptation to start Kyogo Furuhashi, who had returned from a three-and-a-half month injury lay off eight days earlier when he came on against St Johnstone, up front in the absence of Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Daizen Maeda led the line. The Japanese internationalist had been superb in the league game in Govan a fortnight earlier. But he was not operating as a lone striker. Could he fill the boots of his on-form team mate?  

The hardcore element of both teams’ supports set off pyrotechnics as the teams took to the field – Rangers fans lit red, white and blue smoke and fired rockets into the air while their Celtic counterparts filled the ground with green, white and gold plumes.

There were a few fireworks on the field when play got underway. The two teams were evenly matched and probed at each other for an opening. The play went from one end to the other and both sides created half-chances which they were unable to convert.    

Callum McGregor blocked a Ryan Kent attempt after the winger had been played in by Aaron Ramsey, Maeda was unlucky not to get on the end of a defence-splitting Liel Abada through ball, Jota headed a Josip Juranovic cross high and wide and Kemar Roofe fired just past the right post. That was all in the opening 10 minutes.  

Maeda was his usual ball of energy and industry and never gave Connor Goldson a moment’s respite. He also forced McLaughlin to put the ball out for a corner. But some careless play from Celtic in defence gifted Rangers two excellent opportunities.

Tom Rogic tripped Roofe just outside his area and referee Bobby Madden awarded a free-kick within shooting distance. Ramsey stepped forward to take it and shelled it high into the stand. Would Borna Barisic not have better taking responsibility for it? The left back’s prowess in dead ball situations is renowned.

Starfelt gave the ball away with a slack pass inside his own half and Roofe was gifted a free header inside the penalty box after a Barisic delivery. The Celtic centre half, though, redeemed himself by blocking it and Joe Hart saved the follow-up from Joe Aribo easily.

The longer the scoreline remained goalless the more the tension inside Hampden grew. John Lundstram came within the width of the post of breaking the deadlock four minutes before half-time when he tried his luck from just outside the D.

His curling effort had Hart beat. But it ricocheted back off the woodwork. Taking the lead at that stage would by no means have flattered Rangers. They probably just edged the opening 45 minutes.

But when Ramsey hobbled off injured just before half-time following tussle with Cameron Carter-Vickersand was replaced by Scott Wright it was a setback for his side.  

Celtic stepped up their efforts when they returned to the field. Reo Hatate went close after being supplied by his countryman Maeda seven minutes into the second-half and Roofe was fortunate to only be booked for a professional foul as Maeda advanced upfield.

Abada pulled up with an injury and there was a huge roar from the Celtic support when Furuhashi came down from the stand to replace him. Matt O’Riley also took over from Rogic. Their arrival on the field gave their side, who were slowly but surely starting to dominate, a clear lift.

They nosed in front six minutes later with a slick set play after Roofe had barged over Carter-Vickers. Jota squared quickly to McGregor who picked out Taylor unmarked. The left back’s shot took the slightest of deflection’s off of Roofe’s foot and finished in the bottom right corner.

It was only the Scotland defender’s second goal for Celtic and he enjoyed the moment accordingly.

Juranovic was replaced by Anthony Ralston after pulling a muscle. But the loss of the Croatian defender had no detrimental affect on Celtic. Carter-Vickers should have doubled the Parkhead club’s lead after Furuhashi laid off a Jota corner to him six yards out. His thunderous shot struck the crossbar.

Van Bronckhorst threw on Scott Arfield for Joe Aribo and Steven Davis for Jack and the first of his replacements made an immediate impact. Arfield levelled after Roofe flicked a James Tavernier cross on to him in the Celtic penalty box. He had only been on the park for a couple of minutes. The equaliser was against the run of play. But it was a fine finish by the substitute.

The goal gave Tavernier and his team mates a visible lift and they pushed for a winner. But the encounter went to extra-time.

Postecoglou put on Stephen Welsh for Taylor and James Forrest for Maeda at the start of the first period. Welsh went to right back and Ralston switched to the left. David Turnbull also took over from Hatate in the second period.

Van Bronckhorst removed Lundstram and put on Glen Kamara in the 102nd minute and then replaced Barisic with Leon Balogun and Roofe with Fashion Sakala. In the 110th minute Tavernier hit the post and then Sakala hit the crossbar with an overhead kick that hit off Carter Vickers.

The Ibrox club clinched it in the 114th minute when Kent sent Bassey racing down the left and the centre half squared it to Sakala. Starfelt turned the ball into his own net under pressure from the forward.