Celtic Defeat Rangers To Lift The CIS Cup

Celtic 2 Rangers 0 (aet)

It took 120 minutes and an unlikely catalyst in Darren O'Dea, but Celtic beat Rangers 2-0 in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park and picked up their first piece of silverware this season.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan gave Glenn Loovens his first start in an Old Firm game, Gary Caldwell moving up into midfield and Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras both left warming the bench.

For Rangers, Walter Smith packed the midfield with Kenny Miller their only player forward, and Kris Boyd on the bench.

Rangers made the brighter start, Sasa Papac quickly getting in behind the Celtic defense, only to be ruled offside.

Celtic calmed down though and started taking control of the game, pressuring the Rangers defense with Scott Brown, Aiden McGeady and Glenn Loovens all having good chances at goal.

Rangers clawed back the momentum in the second half after Smith moved Lafferty up front, then brought on Nacho Novo for Kenny Miller.

Lafferty made an almost immediate impact, coming close to scoring the game's opener when Celtic 'keeper Artur Boruc tried to get clever with a back-pass in front of his own goal.

Though both teams came close before the end of 90 minutes, neither was alble to take advantage of their chances and the game headed to extra-time.

Nakamura almost immediately got the chance he needed when he was awarded a free-kick, onto which O'Dea got his head to loop the ball into McGregor's net for the go-ahead goal.

The goal energized Celtic's attack though both McDonald and Samaras (who had replaced Hartley in the 72nd minute) wasted two good chances at extending their lead.

As the clock ticked down, Rangers' defender Kirk Broadfoot clipped the heels of McGeady in the box and was sent off with a straight red.

McGeady made no mistake on the subequent penalty and Celtic won the CIS Cup.

"It was close and it was a terrific game," Strachan said after the game.

"Both clubs took an over-the-top reaction for a game recently. So does that mean we're both entertaining, brilliant teams now? Make up your mind.

"I'm talking about people in general. That was a good cup final; a one-goal final," he concluded.