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  -   REPORTS   -   Premier League
Sunday, October 6, 2002
Full-time: Celtic v Rangers
Soccernet.com

Glasgow's big guns shared a six-goal thriller which kept Rangers a point clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League after a rollercoaster ride at Parkhead.

Celtic v Rangers, October 6 2002
Henrik Larsson lashes in an absolute Old Firm classic at Parkhead.
(MichaelCooper/Empics)
During a breathtaking 90 minutes Rangers produced a admirable show of courage after a humiliating and tiring UEFA Cup exit to twice take the lead and come from behind against the champions.

  • Celtic rue soft goals

    Mikel Arteta, Ronald De Boer and Ulrik Laursen own goal gave the home side plenty to think about, but a brilliant Henrik Larsson double and Sutton strike gave both teams a share of the points.

    Rangers certainly looked fired up at the start, but nerves from Maurice Ross almost gifted Celtic an early breakthrough.

    Stilian Petrov seized on the Scotland youngster's poor control, but with two against two the Bulgarian failed to thread the ball through to Larsson and Stefan Klos came out quickly to claim.

    But it was the visitors who drew first blood after just five minutes through Arteta in his first Old Firm derby.

    Valgaeren cleared Fernando Ricksen's cross to the Spaniard and the midfielder hit a first time shot which squirmed under the body of Robert Douglas and into the corner.

    Alan Thompson attempted a quick reply moment later, but he fired his hopeful right-foot effort well over the crossbar.

    The home side were letting their frustrations boil over and Sutton jumped into Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson before Thompson was booked for a badly-timed challenge on Ross.

    The Celtic fans were screaming for a penalty in the 14th minute when Lambert went down under a Peter Lovenkrands challenge.

    Sylla became the next player to go into referee Stuart Dougal's notebook following a reckless tackle on Lovenkrands after 17 minutes.

    The home crowd were again calling for a spot kick in the 20th minute after Fernando Ricksen tackled Larsson.

    Rangers put themselves under increasing pressure with two poor tackles outside the box, but Klos was equal to efforts from Larsson and then Sylla.Rangers were hanging on to their advantage as Celtic piled on the pressure and Larsson almost got on the end of Thompson's cross in the 36th minute after a quick turn of pace on the left flank

    But the Swede produced a sensational strike to level the scores just six minutes before the break.

    With his back to goal and Craig Moore behind him he controlled an in-field pass from Momo Sylla before spinning around to drill an unstoppable right-foot shot past Klos and into the top corner.

    Celtic continued to press and Valgaeren should have done better three minutes later when he headed Petrov's corner over.

    But in the 52nd minute, Celtic did go ahead and it was no surprise at the identity of the goalscorer.

    Larsson arrived unchallenged to head Petrov's corner home from close range for his 15th goal of the season.

    But that lead lasted less than a minute with the home side still caught up in the celebration.

    Substitute Neil McCann curled an inviting ball into the box and de Boer leaped to head emphatically past Douglas from six yards.

    Douglas made amends for his earlier blunder in the 72nd minute when he got down well to save Arveladze's right-foot shot.

    But the Scotland goalkeeper was again found wanting in the 75th minute as Rangers stunned the home crowd by taking the lead.

    He failed to hold an Arthur Numan shot and with Arveladze in threatening the ball spun over the line off the foot of Ulrik Laursen.

    But that lasted just two minutes as Sutton poked the ball home from close range after Rangers had failed to clear a Thompson free-kick.

  • After the match Celtic manager Martin O'Neill refused to criticise Robert Douglas after making two crucial errors.

    'Rab's rather downcast in the dressing room and it wasn't his best day, but he's saved us in the past and that's the nature of being a goalkeeper,' O'Neill told reporters.

    'From our point of view, they were poor goals to lose. We made a poor start to the game and Rangers got to the pace of it quicker than us,' he said.

    'I think it was an excellent game. We were a goal behind before we started. After that we dominated the match and there was only one team in it,' O'Neill added.

    Sweden striker Larsson scored two imperious goals for his side and was disappointed not to be on the winning team.

    'We should have won the game,' he said. 'I was pleased with both the goals, but disappointed we did not get the three points.

    'You have to say we showed the right spirit to come back after being behind twice in the game.'

    Rangers manager Alex McLeish agreed with O'Neill that the match was a worthy spectacle at such a worrying time for the health of the Scottish game. The national team are playing poorly and Celtic are their only side left in the UEFA Cup.

    'I think the fans would have loved it, sensing the atmosphere that was generated through the television,' he said.

    McLeish was also happy with the draw after his side suffered the disappointment of early UEFA Cup elimination in midweek.

    'I've got nothing but praise for the players' approach to the game. They all gave me the right application and they did everything that was asked of them when they crossed the white line,' said McLeish, who is yet to lose in five games as Rangers manager against Celtic.

    'Hopefully, the atmosphere gave them the extra adrenaline. Celtic are such a big side, I mean that in the nicest possible way, and they put you under pressure at set-pieces. They are always a big threat.

    'I was disappointed at the goals we lost ... but I said before it that I would be happy with the draw and it's nice to leave still leading the league.'

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