Match Pictures | Matches: 2022 – 2023
Trivia
- KO: 13:30, Sunday, Hampden Park, Viaplay TV. Very wet weather, Bank Holiday Weekend.
- Scottish Cup semi-finals. Falkirk v Inverness CT in other match, both in second tier. ICT won 3-0.
- Celtic going for the treble, defeated Sevco in league cup final, and need one more league win to wrap up that title.
- Ticket prices: Scotland v Spain at Hampden North Stand £25, Falkirk v ICT North Stand £38!!
- Both Clubs requested to ask fans to please refrain from using pyrotechnics.
- Last match for CCV who will undergo surgery soon.
- Near enough full first team squad for Celtic. Abada and Forrest still injured.
- Jota keeps scoring v the Huns.
- Referee Willie Collum injured in warm up so had to be replaced for the match!
- Clips of Celtic Fans chanting en masse at this match of “You can shove your coronation up your a**e” goes viral, even making international news such as in Australia (UK coronation for the next king is next week). Clip even ends up on BBC’s satirical show ‘Have I got news for you’, getting a round of applause, cheers & laughs, see: Link
- Sevco’s manager Michael Beale now lost MORE games in domestic football in last 4 weeks than Ange Postecoglou has lost since September 19th 2021.
- A disturbing banner in the Sevco end displayed with a nazi/fascist skull symbol and the line “Expand or Perish”.
- Sevco Managing director Stewart Robertson to leave Sevco in summer. Spate of senior departures recently following recent concerns over finances & legal costs.
- Women’s Scottish Cup final: Celtic v Sevco at Hampden Park on 28 May.
- Reports: Urhoghide on way back when season-long loan at KV Oostende expires at end of the season.
- Reports: Celtic sent scouts to watch Trinidad and Tobago forward Levi Garcia, 25, playing for AEK Athens against Olympiacos
- BBC chair Richard Sharp forced to resign after an investigation found that he breached the rules after failing to declare his role in a loan guarantee made to former PM Boris Johnson.
- Celtic Boys Club (CBC) founder Jim Torbett guilty of abusing 13-year-old boy. Justice is paramount. CBC not linked to Celtic, it was an independent entity.
- Chess: China’s Ding Liren crowned new world champion after dramatic finale. First Chinese winner of the title, and first new winner for ten years.
- Snooker: World Final this weekend, Belgium’s Bercel defeated Selby, first time the title has been won by a player from continental Europe.
Summary
Celtic Player Matt O’Riley @mattoriley8 · 3h “That was fun”
“You can see where he (Beale) is going. You talk about Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. Micky Beale is not far off that. He reminds me very much of Arsene Wenger.”
Sevco assistant manager Neil Banfield (week before this match and their defeat to Aberdeen in the league)
“Rangers need to rough Celtic up. I don’t know if they’ve got the make up to bully Celtic.”
Radio Scotland pre-match
El Salto of KDS:
Now that all the dust has settled and we can look at the game without the potential coronaries, I think we’ll see the highlights and realise we were in fact very comfortable for most of the game. All they have is chaos ball, balls into the box trying to feed off the scraps. Sure they had a lot of the ball second half, but we could easily have scored a second. Our defence was magnificent, it goes without saying that CCV was MOTM but I think Starfelt was brilliant as well. Big Joe did what he had to do, and Taylor was decent as well. Today was simply about winning, we can’t always be on it 100%, and we can’t always be banging in goals for fun, today was about the team, to dig in in midfield, and to defend when we had to.
We weren’t collectively at our best, but even when we aren’t functioning perfectly, we have too much for them.
The referee must be sick with his assist for the goal, some of his decisions verged on criminal, and the amount of times Kyogo in particular was on the end of snide foul play was ridiculous. As for Barisic and his dive in the box, that’s a second yellow right there, but Robertson ignored it because he knew the consequences if he’d did his job.
A mention to the fans, they were fecking magnificent from start to finish.
Sevilliano of KDS:
First half i thought we gradually came to dominate and that was with an unfit Reo (who i think still played well)
We didn’t kick on at beginning of second half and i thought they dominated the half altho as usual with morelos and sakala they effed up
Always good to see them start their search for scapegoats and now theyre realising tillman and raskin or raskan (however they effin pronounce it) are nowhere near it
On our side AJ injured, Reo unfit, CCV playing injured so more to come
But as we go forward and as Ange says in his interview we need to progress – hoping for more quality in midfield and a challenger to maeda
Ossian @Ossian414 · 5h Today, we seen something special. A celtic player was fouled. The referee tries to cheat by ignoring it. The foul was so blatant that all Rangers players stop. A Celtic player plays on. Celtic Score the winning goal. Isn’t it just wonderful? Karma is a bitch.
Celtic Wiki @TheCelticWiki · 7h All about the win today. CCV immense. A clean sheet against a team utterly desperate to prevent a trophyless season.
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 7h What a performance from Cameron Carter-Vickere and Carl Starfelt, absolute domination, they were absolutely outstanding individually and as a pairing.
AgentScotland: What a performance from Cameron Carter-Vickere and Carl Starfelt, absolute domination, they were absolutely outstanding individually and as a pairing. I didn’t think Sakala’s miss in the League Cup Final could have been outdone, off the post and an open goal, yet here we are, another shot off the post, another simple tap in, the exact same side netting at the exact same side of the ground, absolutely horrific. Rangers played well today in that they stopped Celtic from playing, that’s it, it’s far easier to be destructive than creative, all they offeree were long diagonals & crosses and hope for chaos, those tactics might get individual results but they don’t win trophies consistently.Give it two days and it’ll be “the Coronation is as good as a trophyJust watching the highlights, at the game I was giving the ref credit for playing on at Celtic’s goal, seeing it on TV he had no intention of giving the foul to O’Riley
Arsène Parçelie @Arsene_Parcelie · 7h The excuses are going to be great… ‘They didn’t win it, we lost it’ ‘We had more chances’ ‘They’re bang average’ ‘Disappointing…’ ‘I fink we made fings ‘ard four ourself’ ‘They gave me everyfink’ ‘Next season we’ll ‘ave a better group’ Hahaha
Ange “You have to earn these wins. We knew they were going to put everything in to try and stop us. Full credit to this group of players. They always deliver”.“The two centre halves were outstanding. That’s CCV’s last game of the season. He’s been carrying an injury for a long time”“If you want to be a really top team you have to embrace all aspects of the game (talking about defending). We aren’t there yet (top team) but we can see the improvement”
CalMac “That was a tough game. We always expect tough games in semi finals. We had to show something a little different in the second half. A good defensive block. Celtic is a club where you have to win. We’ve installed that clearly to our group
Celtic fans Chant: “You can stick your coronation up yir arse”
ETim: We made that hard for ourselves! 1st half we edged it. 2nd they were better until last 15 mins. Many ways to win a game but the most important in cup matches is winning. CCV immense & I mean immense. Starfelt no far behind. Hart solid. Defence won that game today On the attacking front big applause for Maeda. As we know he covers so much ground. Incredible work ethic but the winning goal was all about him switching on and then firing over wonderful cross for Jota winner. The thing about that today.. its dawning on all Huns they are so far away from drawing level let alone passing us..a squad in turmoil and theyre looking at free signings in an attempt at a response.. gonna be a major Summer of pressure over by. Btw we were poor for the majority of the second half and when they were on top they should have equalised. Here’s the rub though, see if they did I’ve no doubt we’d have raised our game again and gone on to win…reality is…they also know this to be the case
Teams
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hart
- 2Johnston
- Substituted forRalstonat 54′minutes
- 20Carter-Vickers
- 4Starfelt
- 3Taylor
- 33O’Riley
- Substituted forMooyat 66′minutes
- 42McGregorBooked at 88mins
- 41Hatate
- Substituted forIwataat 66′minutes
- 17Neves Filipe
- Substituted forHaksabanovicat 65′minutes
- 8Furuhashi
- Substituted forOhat 84′minutes
- 38MaedaBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 9Haksabanovic
- 13Mooy
- 14Turnbull
- 18Kobayashi
- 19Oh
- 24Iwata
- 29Bain
- 56Ralston
- 69Vata
Goals:
- Neves Filipe (42′ minutes)
Assists:
- Maeda (42′ minutes)
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 31BarisicBooked at 27mins
- Substituted forYilmazat 74′minutes
- 4Lundstram
- 43Raskin
- Substituted forMatondoat 74′minutes
- 13CantwellBooked at 82mins
- 71Tillman
- Substituted forArfieldat 36′minutes
- 14Kent
- Substituted forSakalaat 45′minutes
- 20Morelos
- Substituted forHagiat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Yilmaz
- 7Hagi
- 16Souttar
- 17Matondo
- 18Kamara
- 23Wright
- 30Sakala
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
Goals:
Assists:
Ref: Don Robertson [replacing William Collum who got injured in warm-up!]
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Celtic
- Possession
- Home52%
- Celtic48%
- Shots
- Home13
- Celtic10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Celtic5
- Corners
- Home7
- Celtic6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Celtic15
Articles
Why this win was so un-Celticy, their Bermuda Triangle and mad stat against Rangers
There were mysteries to be interrogated in the over-arching ordinariness of Celtic as they stayed fair for total supremacy within the Scottish game.
Andrew Smith
By Andrew Smith
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/why-this-win-was-so-un-celticy-their-bermuda-triangle-and-mad-stat-against-rangers-4125208
Yet everything was firmly as met the eye when it came to the Parkhead side’s defensive triangle … in which Rangers hopes of avoiding a grizzly campaign were made to disappear. A Bermuda version, it certainly wasn’t. Instead, in Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, and Joe Hart, the victors all-too-straighforwardly possessed a trio who all but guaranteed the treble.
In talking about how “all facets” of his team’s game were required to “get the job” done, Ange Postecoglou effectively acknowledged as much following the slenderest of 1-0 successes. Here was a monumental match as notable for the nil as the one. In truth, talking about getting the job done tends to be a standard coaching euphemism for not playing very well and winning. But in the case of his centre-back and the keeper behind them, the Celtic manager could have the confidence to lean on – and was required to lean on as his team were forced to defend their own box for a concerted spell following the interval – a triumvirate that triumphed in more than just the result stakes.
Four of the five goals Celtic had conceded in the derby this season had resulted from set-pieces, in one form or another. There were precious few instances where Postecoglou’s men appeared vulnerable to such threats at Hampden. Carter-Vickers, even as he played through a knee problem that has now ended his season, and Starfelt seemed to draw the ball to their bonces as if there was some sort of inexplicable magnetic field allowing them to do so. It was so un-Celticy – even in the dominant Postecoglou era that has made for one one derby loss in the bitter rivals’ last nine meetings – for a string of crosses into the area during the second period to be repelled with such conviction. Which followed Hart playing his part with a couple of emphatic punches in the early stages as Michael Beale’s men sought to take the encounter to their opponents.
Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers holds off Rangers’ Fashion Sakala Jr during the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers holds off Rangers’ Fashion Sakala Jr during the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Granted, Fashion Sakala unforgivably burying into the side-netting a rebound from a James Tavernier effort clattered off the inside of the post around the hour-mark provided the Celtic defence with a let-off. However, it was the solitary one they required as, according to Beale, his side fell short in both boxes. That was harsh on his personnel in an attacking sense because, although the Rangers manager simply could not say as much, the command exhibited by Carter-Vickers, Starfelt and Hart was what underpinned his side’s attacks being stymied.
As a consequence, Celtic’s fourth derby victory in a five-game unbeaten sequence in the fixture couldn’t just be set apart from all others outside of their Parkhead environs in this run. It can be set apart from any clash of the pair away from the east end of Glasgow across the past three-and-a-half years. Attributable to the fact that until this latest usurping of the ancient adversaries Celtic had failed to kept a clean sheet beyond facing them on the home front since, in the scrawniest fashion imaginable, they held out with 10 men to lift the League Cup in December 2019 courtesy of another 1-0. Postecoglou has a hatred of the word, but that Neil Lennon-led trophy snaring absolutely was down to luck. No-one, though, should dare suggest the same scoreline at Hampden this weekend was borne out to anything similar. It was the faultless judgement of his defensive triangle in their own third that had Rangers trophy prospects evaporating into thin air.
A Celtic defeat too far for Rangers – players waved away, different ways to pile on heartache
Mayday will have very different connotations for Michael Beale when he wakes up at the start of this week. It might equal a Spring bank holiday for most people.
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Published 30th Apr 2023, 18:05 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/a-celtic-defeat-too-far-for-rangers-players-waved-away-different-ways-to-pile-on-heartache-4125200
The alternative definition seems more pertinent to the manager of Rangers Football Club after Beale came off second best for the third Old Firm game in a row. This latest defeat was the equivalent of an international distress call. Beale afterwards promised significant changes to personnel this summer. There has to be.
It is now four matches against Celtic without a win since he returned to the club. One had got the feeling he was already well aware that this Ibrox team’s race is run, but if he didn’t, he certainly knows now. It was writ large at a drenched Hampden Park. Celtic rule Raintown.
Initial attempts by Rangers to applaud their fans after the final whistle seemed to be rebuffed by a large section of those supporters who had stayed on until the end. The players were waved away. This was a defeat too far given the likely ramifications. Even the hunch that this limited Rangers side were unable to give much more did not seem to hold much water with many of these sickened fans.
Jota’s goal was the difference at Hampden as Celtic overcame Rangers.
Jota’s goal was the difference at Hampden as Celtic overcame Rangers.
Changing a manager has not appeared to have had the desired effect, not yet at least. Even a win when the teams meet again in two weeks will be the definition of hollow victory. “Cheer up Michael Beale!” sang the Celtic fans at the end after he was again on the wrong end of a one-goal defeat. Rangers might not be getting any further away but they’re not getting closer either.
There was a spell near the start of the second half when you felt that if Rangers didn’t score then, when they were so obviously on top, then they would never score. James Tavernier hit the post with a sweeping shot and substitute Fashion Sakala stubbed the rebound into the side-netting with the goal gaping. Celtic rode the storm, with Cameron Carter-Vickers imperious at the back on his last appearance of the season before knee surgery. They remain on the crest of a wave.
They are finding different ways to pile the heartache on their rivals. It’s becoming cruel. Of all the ways they source a win, doing so via a header from a mercurial Portuguese winger was not among the obvious range of possible outcomes predicted beforehand.
Jota’s goal three minutes before half-time was another self-inflicted wound for Rangers, whose hesitancy in defence was a huge contributing factor. It might be the age of VAR but playing the whistle remains as much a part of the game as ever. Rangers would do well to remember this. It was criminal the way Borna Barisic reacted with such sluggishness after the ball broke free following a challenge by Nico Raskin on Matt O’Riley.
Fashion Sakala missed a glaring opportunity for Rangers in the second half.
Fashion Sakala missed a glaring opportunity for Rangers in the second half.
It wasn’t even as if Barisic was expecting his own side to be awarded a free kick. He thought Celtic would get it. But they didn’t. Referee Don Robertson, who had replaced original appointment Willie Collum minutes before kick-off due to injury, allowed play to continue and Daizen Maeda reacted in a way the Rangers players did not by immediately seizing on the loose ball. He then whipped in a cross towards the back post. Jota’s anticipation put Tavernier’s to shame as he stole in front of the Rangers skipper to head his side ahead. The timing proved every bit as disastrous as when Kyogo Furuhashi struck a minute before half time in February’s Viaplay Cup final. Rangers wanted the clouds of pyro smoke that saw the start delayed to roll in once again.
It was like Brigadoon at kick-off. Rather than the mist parting to reveal a mysterious Scottish village that appears once every 100 years, the swirl of smoke lifted to expose the players in an ancient drama. It was the fifth edition already this season, with a sixth imminent.
Too many? To judge from the first half, yes. Still, no matter how poor the game is, no matter how hard it is to see anyone emerging in profit, if a team will find a way, then it seems that team will always be Celtic. A treble might have been on the line but normal rules applied. Is it too early for a coronation? Celtic were even afforded the luxury of playing with a passenger. Reo Hatate was clearly not fit. It was not surprising to see him included in a triple substation on the 65-minute mark, moments after Rangers had come close to equalising through Tavernier.
It was 27 minutes before we saw a shot of any real note. An Alistair Johnston effort was beaten out by Allan McGregor, who was trying to ensure he might have one more Scottish Cup final appearance in him before retirement. The goalkeeper then blocked Jota’s follow-up effort from a tight angle. Little was coming off for anyone. Even the ball players were struggling for their touch. Jota let the ball run under his feet when in a promising position after Maeda’s cross from the left.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates, with Michael Beale in the background.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates, with Michael Beale in the background.
It might have been 0-0 at this point but Rangers had already suffered a significant blow when Malik Tillman, someone they hoped might finally put his stamp on one of these meetings, collapsed to the turf holding his hamstring after receiving treatment following a challenge on Greg Taylor. It was a big, big blow for Rangers but then Scott Arfield, his replacement, did save the tie for his team at the same stage last season with an equaliser that forced extra time. His side wasn’t trailing this time around. Not when Arfield came on at least.
But they were behind by half-time and it proved a ruinous goal to concede, both for Rangers’ Scottish Cup aspirations as well as hopes of stopping Celtic in their treble tracks. And once again, it was of the entirely preventable variety. The players clearly aren’t learning.
Rangers 0-1 Celtic: Huge summer ahead for Michael Beale as big mistakes cost Ibrox side
By Tom EnglishBBC Scotland at Hampden
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65443583
5 hours ago5 hours ago.From the section Rangers
Summer rebuild will be ‘biggest in years’ for Rangers – Beale
When Rangers gather as a grim collective to analyse what happened to them at Hampden on Sunday, they won’t need coaches and tactics boards to tackle it. They’ll need couches and psychologists – lots of them.
Their Scottish Cup has gone, their season is done, their spirit was broken again in this fixture. That’s four cracks at it in the Michael Beale months and no joy. That’s a decidedly average Celtic second-half performance that they couldn’t exploit, a sitter they couldn’t convert, some other chances they couldn’t force past Joe Hart.
No amount of smoke billowing from any number of flares could obscure the reality of this Scottish Cup semi-final, a truth that has played out time and time again this season. Rangers are in an endless cycle of ‘what if?’ matches against their biggest rival.
‘Celtic hung in there but have Rangers’ number’
Reaction & as it happened
Celtic treble dream alive as Rangers beaten in semi-final
What if so many of them weren’t rendered statuesque in the pivotal moment of the semi-final? What if Borna Barisic and Nicolas Raskin and Ryan Kent and James Tavernier weren’t so comatose in the face of Daizen Maeda’s speed of thought and Jota’s cleverness of movement?
What if Fashion Sakala had converted his sitter instead of blasting it into the side netting? What if Tavernier’s shot had hit the post and spun in instead of hitting the post and bouncing out? They can wallow in what-might-have-beens for an age. What if they hadn’t switched off so badly for Celtic’s first in the 4-0 at Parkhead? What if Jon McLaughlin hadn’t gifted David Turnbull for the fourth? What if Alfredo Morelos hadn’t given it away to Maeda for Celtic’s opener at Ibrox and what if an entire defence hadn’t switched off for Kyogo Furuhashi’s equaliser?
A poorly defended cross from the right in the League Cup final and a goal. Another defensive lapse on the right and another goal. Yet more weakness and mind-numbing mistakes at the back in the 3-2 in the league. What if Ben Davies hadn’t done what he’d done at Celtic Park? What if John Souttar hadn’t done what he had done?
And now the continuation of a theme: Rangers blunders exploited by an alert Celtic attack, Rangers profligacy down the other end stymieing them in their hope of defending their trophy.
This was another Celtic victory by a goal. On the face of it, some of the more optimistic souls at Ibrox might try to convince themselves that they’re getting closer to Ange Postecoglou’s team. That’s a one-way street to delusion. In the aftermath, Beale more or less said the same.
‘Rangers need dramatic surgery’
If they have sense, his board will listen to him. The great imponderable is how much can they afford to back him? What does a rebuild budget look like at Rangers? How much have they got? They have multiple players on lavish wages who are out of contract in the summer. Those millions will help recast the team, but pretty much every move they make needs to be astute. They must look at Postecoglou’s unerring accuracy in the transfer market with some jealousy and awe.
In his 10 Old Firm games, Postecoglou’s signings have contributed heavily. Kyogo has scored five goals, Jota now has four, Liel Abada has three, Reo Hatate has two. Tavernier is the only Rangers player who has scored two or more in those games and he has been there for a relative eternity, a signing from another era. And yet the goals burden still resides with him, a full-back, more than any other player in blue.
It remains the case that Carl Starfelt has scored as many goals against Celtic as Morelos or Kent have since Postecoglou arrived. It also remains the case that Filip Helander, out injured for a year, still has the same number of Old Firm goals in the last two seasons as any Rangers midfielder or striker. In statistical terms, these matches are more often than not settled by a goal but that margin, in real terms, is far greater than that.
We know what Celtic are like when they fire on all cylinders in these games, but resilience gets them through as much as class. ‘We never stop’ is a mantra they live by, not just a catchy slogan to hang on a dressing room wall. Maeda showed the truth of it in the most instructive moment of the afternoon. His thought process, his appreciation of what was on and his accuracy in the cross was all done at breakneck speed, the kind of powerplay that did for Rangers yet again.
Alfredo Morelos is substituted
Alfredo Morelos was substituted off at Hampden after failing to make an impact against Celtic
When Celtic play with lethal purpose, they win. When it’s a more even affair, they still tend to win. When they’re below par and under pressure, as they were for much of the second half at Hampden, they still come out on top. Rangers can’t kid themselves into thinking the gap between them and Celtic is closing just because Rangers had the better of a second half. This Rangers team needs dramatic surgery.
This was another non-performance from Alfredo Morelos. Beale started him hoping that he would transform himself overnight, surely knowing that Morelos no longer has the capability to do so.
That’s another Old Firm game that’s passed Ryan Kent by. For quite some time, he has made the Rangers starting team on reputation alone. Kent has scored 28 domestic goals in more than 160 games for Rangers. Jota now has 23 in less than two seasons at Celtic. Beale threw on attacker after attacker as the second half wore on, but none of them were good enough.
It was an exercise in desperation at that point. He spoke in the aftermath about how his players gave him everything, which could be taken as a euphemism of sorts. Most of them might have given everything they had, but their everything continues to fall short in defeating Postecoglou’s team.
The treble is very much on. A place in the Celtic Park pantheon is within touching distance. For Rangers, the view from the doldrums is dark.
Celtic 1-0 Rangers – Jota heads Celtic towards a Treble
By David Potter 30 April, 2023 1 Comment
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring only goal of the game during the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
There are few more effective tonics for anyone who has been ill than this! A long, long second half in which a weaker defence might have buckled but we emerged yet again to reach our 60th Scottish Cup final (40 wins, 18 defeats and one riot in the previous 59) and little needs to be said about the Scottish Cup final at this stage, other than remember Feyenoord! (In 1970 we beat Leeds in the European Cup semi final and thought the job was done!).
The job is NOT yet finished. No serpent of complacency is to be allowed to enter Paradise.
There is no need to gloat. Let the facts speak for themselves. The silence of the blues over the next few days will be an eloquent one. And they will have an opportunity to cheer at the Coronation for their other heroes!
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
We may even find it in out heart to give them a little credit for some good midfield work which on occasion got the better of us, but could not get past a resolute defence in which Cameron Carter-Vickers was outstanding. My other heroes were Joe Hart who radiated confidence and Anthony Ralston who fitted in seamlessly.
Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic shakes hands with Joe Hart after the team’s victory in the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Once again Ange substituted well, particularly, I thought, Aaron Mooy, who gave us a solidity as we gradually regained control of the game during the second half. Our Japanese players were possibly not at their best with Kyogu sadly targetted in the first half with one or two coarse tackles , but we did take our chance.
Our opponents possibly had two moments when I felt they were about to score – one was when CCV robbed Morelos on the line, and the other when after they hit the post, Sikala put the ball into the side net (did he not do that in the League Cup final as well?…lol), but Ibrox is now clearly second best with a huge clear out and in take promised over the summer. It may or may not include Mr Beale.
Carl Starfelt of Celtic celebrates with teammate Callum McGregor after the team’s victory in the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
To a TV viewer, it was obvious that the Celtic crowd outshouted the other one, but we could not say which crowd produced the most smoke at the start. Frankly, we could do without that. We want, after all, to see a football match. And well done Mr Robertson. That cannot have been easy, but he at least kept a lid on things – and there was no VAR.
So there we are. Let us enjoy the rest of the season. No silly slip ups now and summer 2023 will be one of our best.
David Potter
BBC
y Colin MoffatBBC Scotland at Hampden Park
Last updated on
6 hours ago6 hours ago.From the section Scottish Cup
Highlights: Rangers 0-1 Celtic
A first-half header from Jota was enough to settle a tense Old Firm encounter at Hampden, sending Celtic into a Scottish Cup final against Inverness Caley Thistle.
A catalogue of Rangers errors led to the only goal on 42 minutes, with Daizen Maeda profiting from hesitancy to provide the telling cross.
Jota simply had to nod on target from a few yards out.
Celtic will be firm favourites to complete a treble against Championship opposition on 3 June, while Rangers, the defending champions, face up to a season without a trophy.
The holders had chances to level in the second half, with James Tavernier hitting the woodwork and Fashion Sakala guilty of a bad miss from the rebound.
This was the fifth Old Firm meeting of the campaign, with Celtic well on top in the head-to-heads, winning four, with one league draw at Ibrox, where the Glasgow rivals meet again in a fortnight.
Celtic, who beat Rangers in the League Cup final in February, could well have the title wrapped up by then since they need just one more win to secure the Premiership crown.
‘Celtic hung in there but have Rangers’ number’
Reaction & as it happened
‘Only major surgery can halt Rangers’ Old Firm cycle’ – Tom English
‘We’ve chance of something special’ – Postecoglou
Neither goalkeeper had much to do in the first half as a deflected shot from Nicolas Raskin fizzed wide of Joe Hart’s post in the opening minute, while Allan McGregor thwarted efforts from Alastair Johnston and Jota without too much fuss.
Celtic were attacking with more menace amid the continued chaos of blocks, hacks and last-ditch tackles, but it was a collective lack of focus from Rangers that allowed Jota to score – along with quick thinking from Maeda.
Borna Barisic and others in blue stopped, anticipating a foul near the edge of the penalty area, and that allowed Maeda to steal in and whip the ball across goal. Jota couldn’t miss with his close-range header as he ghosted away from Tavernier.
Rangers had 45 minutes to salvage their season and started the second period with increased intensity, although it needed a sprawling save from McGregor to keep out a sharp shot from Kyogo Furuhashi.
Hart matched his fellow veteran’s athleticism soon after, tipping wide a raking strike from Scott Arfield.
The Celtic keeper was beaten by a Tavernier shot from 18 yards but the ball crashed against the post, with Sakala wasting a glorious opportunity by firing the follow-up into the side-netting.
A header from Tavernier thumped into the turf and over and Hart had to look lively to push a low cross out of Arfield’s path before the Rangers midfielder swept over from the edge of the penalty area.
With Rangers growing more desperate in search of a way back, Celtic sat deeper and deeper, absorbing everything their old foes could throw at them in the closing stages.
Player of the match – Cameron Carter-Vickers
There wasn’t much between Carter-Vickers and his defensive partner Carl Starfelt but the American just shades it for his leadership and a series of important interceptions
There wasn’t much between Carter-Vickers and his defensive partner Carl Starfelt but the American just shades it for his leadership and a series of important interceptions and brave blocks
Postecoglou ready to break new ground – analysis
Ange Postecoglou now has the chance to go one better than he did in his debut campaign. If Celtic do see off Caley Thistle, it will be the club’s eighth domestic clean sweep, with the Old Firm locked on seven apiece.
There wasn’t much in the way of the flowing football associated with the Celtic boss, but he will be delighted with the grit shown by his players, with captain Callum McGregor at the heart of the midfield battle and Carter-Vickers at his formidable best in the centre of defence.
Postecoglou said the American, who has been carrying a knee injury, won’t play again this season and Johnston may not been seen for a while either after celebrating on crutches at full-time.
Kyogo, Jota and Maeda were not afforded much in the way of time and space but never stopped running for their team, with the latter two having the speed of thought to capitalise on a collective lapse from the Rangers defence.
Michael Beale was again left to rue “fine margins” on the big stage.
The Ibrox manager faces a major rebuild over the summer as a season that promised so much with a long-awaited return to the Champions League fizzled out at a damp and dissonant national stadium.
Raskin and Todd Cantwell, overlooked for starting places in the League Cup final, added energy, but right-back Tavernier was yet again Rangers’ most dangerous presence in the final third, with Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, drifting out of contract, not looking like players determined to say their farewells on a high.
There was plenty of endeavour from most of Beale’s men but, in the decisive moments, they fell short against their main adversaries once more.
What they said
Summer rebuild will be ‘biggest in years’ for Rangers – Beale
Rangers manager Michael Beale told BBC Scotland: “We shot ourselves in the foot again. We kept Allan [McGregor] pretty much safe the whole game.
“We’ve made a big mistake in a huge game. It’s a repeat of what’s happened. Right now, it’s massive disappointment. When our opportunities came, we weren’t able to take them.”
Postecoglou ‘proud’ of Celtic resilience
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou told BBC Scotland: “It’s a semi-final, there’s a big prize at the end so we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Dare I say it, we never stop. We’re always alert. We force the opposition into mistakes.
“The progress we’ve made has been immense. It’s credit to everyone involved.”
Match ends, Rangers 0, Celtic 1.
90’+6′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 0, Celtic 1.
90’+5′
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Attempt saved. Tomoki Iwata (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daizen Maeda.
90’+4′
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Ben Davies (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+4′
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Foul by Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic).
90’+3′
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Foul by Rabbi Matondo (Rangers).
90’+3′
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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+2′
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Hand ball by Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic).
90′
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Attempt missed. Ridvan Yilmaz (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by John Lundstram.
88′
Booking
Callum McGregor (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
88′
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Ianis Hagi (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88′
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Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
86′
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Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).
86′
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Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86′
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Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
86′
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Foul by Anthony Ralston (Celtic).
86′
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Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86′
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Foul by Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic).
84′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Oh Hyeon-Gyu replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.
84′
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Attempt missed. Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Rabbi Matondo.
83′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Ianis Hagi replaces Alfredo Morelos.
82′
Booking
Todd Cantwell (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81′
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Attempt blocked. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Arfield.
81′
Booking
Daizen Maeda (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81′
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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
81′
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Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79′
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Attempt missed. Carl Starfelt (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
78′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Goldson.
78′
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Attempt blocked. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
78′
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Attempt missed. Carl Starfelt (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
77′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ben Davies.
76′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
74′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Rabbi Matondo replaces Nicolas Raskin.
74′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Ridvan Yilmaz replaces Borna Barisic.
71′
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Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
70′
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Attempt missed. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Davies.
69′
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Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic).
69′
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Ben Davies (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69′
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Foul by Anthony Ralston (Celtic).
69′
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Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomoki Iwata replaces Reo Hatate.
66′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Sead Haksabanovic replaces Jota.
65′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Aaron Mooy replaces Matt O’Riley.
64′
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Attempt missed. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
64′
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James Tavernier (Rangers) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Fashion Sakala.
64′
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Attempt missed. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Carl Starfelt.
62′
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Reo Hatate (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
62′
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Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Rangers).
61′
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Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alfredo Morelos following a corner.
60′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Joe Hart.
60′
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Attempt saved. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nicolas Raskin.
59′
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Attempt saved. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) with an attempt from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross.
58′
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Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
58′
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
57′
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Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Reo Hatate.
54′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Anthony Ralston replaces Alistair Johnston because of an injury.
53′
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
51′
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Delay in match because of an injury Alistair Johnston (Celtic).
51′
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Delay in match because of an injury Borna Barisic (Rangers).
50′
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Attempt saved. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
50′
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Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Todd Cantwell with a cross.
49′
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Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
49′
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Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48′
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Foul by Jota (Celtic).
48′
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Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
47′
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Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic).
47′
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Ben Davies (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Second Half
Second Half begins Rangers 0, Celtic 1.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Fashion Sakala replaces Ryan Kent.
45’+4′
Half Time
First Half ends, Rangers 0, Celtic 1.
45’+2′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Daizen Maeda.
44′
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Foul by Alistair Johnston (Celtic).
44′
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Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42′
Goal!
Goal! Rangers 0, Celtic 1. Jota (Celtic) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Daizen Maeda with a cross.
42′
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Matt O’Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
42′
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Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Rangers).
40′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
37′
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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
37′
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Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
36′
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
36′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Arfield replaces Malik Tillman because of an injury.
35′
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Delay in match because of an injury Malik Tillman (Rangers).
34′
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
33′
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Delay in match because of an injury Malik Tillman (Rangers).
28′
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Offside, Celtic. Carl Starfelt tries a through ball, but Daizen Maeda is caught offside.
27′
Booking
Borna Barisic (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
27′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
27′
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Attempt saved. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
27′
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Attempt saved. Alistair Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jota.
25′
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Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
25′
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Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
22′
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Offside, Rangers. Ryan Kent tries a through ball, but Alfredo Morelos is caught offside.
21′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
20′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Alistair Johnston.
18′
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Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
18′
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Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Goldson.
16′
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Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
16′
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Foul by Malik Tillman (Rangers).
15′
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Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
15′
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Daizen Maeda (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
14′
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Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
14′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Goldson.
13′
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Offside, Celtic. Greg Taylor tries a through ball, but Jota is caught offside.
13′
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Hand ball by Borna Barisic (Rangers).
11′
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
10′
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Delay in match because of an injury Todd Cantwell (Rangers).
2′
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Foul by John Lundstram (Rangers).
2′
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Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
1′
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
1′
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Attempt blocked. Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 14:4014:40
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Lineups are announced and players are warming up.