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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

World media reacts as Celtic 'live better than Rangers' and Kyogo earns nickname with staying potential

There is no Scottish Premiership contest that catches the eye of a global audience quite like a a showdown between Rangers and Celtic.

It was another blockbuster chapter between the rivals with Michael Beale taking on his first derby as the main man at Ibrox, while Ange Postecoglou was looking to strengthen bid for a second consecutive title. A late equaliser from Kyogo Furuhashi earned Celtic a 2-2 draw against and kept the Hoops nine point lead at the top alive, but it could have been a very different scenario for the Light Blues.

Daizen Maeda's opener was overturned by a sublime Ryan Kent finish curled in for two minutes after the break before captain James Tavernier slammed in a penalty five minutes later after Carl Starfelt chopped down Fashion Sakala in the box. However, that's just the tip of the iceberg with a host of talking points taking up the post match debrief.

But what is catching the attention worldwide? Record Sport takes a look as Kyogo earned the moniker of party spoiler.

SoFoot (France)

The French outlet loved the action at Ibrox. They wrote: "No winners for this first Old Firm of the calendar year. Celtic, a solid leader in the Premiership, travelled to the lair of their best enemy, second, on Monday afternoon for the resumption of the Scottish championship. After conceding the opener in the fifth minute, Rangers completely reversed the trend as they returned from the locker room thanks to Ryan Kent, then from the penalty spot with the inevitable James Tavernier.

"But that was reckoning without the self-sacrifice of the Greens and Whites who, through Kyogo Furuhashi, picked up the score in the 88th minute, two everywhere at the final whistle, a score that allows the Celts to take off in the standings, leaving Rangers at nine lengths. The show must go on in Scotland."

Kicker (Germany)

And it received a similar reaction in Germany. Kicker stated: "In a hard-fought Old Firm, Rangers and Celtic drew 2-2 after the hosts turned the game around within six minutes of the restart. The game ended in a performance-based draw, which Celtic will live with better than Rangers, who are still nine points behind The Bhoys."

Calgary Herald (Canada)

"Canadian defender Alistair Johnston, who was transferred from Club de foot Montréal in December, made his Celtic debut Monday with Kyogo Furuhashi’s 88th-minute goal securing a point for the Scottish league leader in a 2-2 tie with Glasgow rival Rangers.

"Trailing 1-0 after a fifth-minute Daizen Maeda goal, Rangers pulled ahead early in the second half on goals by Ryan Kent and skipper James Tavernier. Furuhashi tied it up in a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball bounce off several defenders before it fell to the Japanese international in front of goal. It marked the 17th goal Celtic has scored in the final 15 minutes of a game this season."

TV 2 (Denmark)

"Rangers were heading for an important win over Celtic but had to see Kyogo Furuhashi secure a point for the visitors. Celtic have come a seven-mile step closer to the Scottish Football Championship after the champions secured a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser in an intense prestige and local clash against Rangers. Rangers thus missed an opportunity to catch up with the arch-rivals, who still have a significant lead of nine points in the table."

Nemzetis Sport (Croatia)

"The 432nd Old Firm started with a huge defensive error and a Celtic goal: in the fifth minute of the match, Alfredo Morelos practically passed a goal pass to Maeda , who dribbled past two defenders and then put it in the goal under the exiting McGregor.

"Rangers equalised almost immediately after the turn. Sakala gave a great ball to Ryan Kent , who curled it into the left side of the goal from a good 13 meters. In the 52nd minute, the home team received a penalty kick: Starfelt, if very slightly, pulled Sakala's leg. James Tavernier muscled the penalty into the upper right corner - Michael Beale's team turned the game around.

"In the 84th minute , Tillman could have decided the rally, but he waited too long with the shot - the ball got stuck in the sliding Carter-Vickers. The missed chance took its toll: Mooy received the ball inside the penalty area, but he couldn't cross, just like Jota, but the home defenders couldn't free him. At the end of the pinball, Kyogo Furuhashi scored a bullet into the net - the Japanese striker scored his 15th league goal of the current season."

News 24 (France)

The second take from France and they see a long road back for Rangers.

They stated: "In a game that meant little to the Scottish Premiership table, the Old Firm meant everything to the pair of teams involved. For 88 minutes, it looked like Rangers had pulled off one of their greatest stunners. A victory over a Celtic team as close to perfection as possible. Yes, it was a clash between the top two teams in the table. However, the gap between the two entrants in the match was nine points. After 19 matches, Celtic have won 18 and lost only once, a 2-0 loss to St. Mirren.

"Consequently, Rangers held a lead with just two minutes of the 90 minutes remaining. James Tavernier, who in the 53rd minute, got a defensive clearance in the 80th minute. The challenge, which left the Englishman bloodied, drew massive applause. Until Kyogo Furuhashi ruined the party in the 88th minute. After a disorganised sequence of play, the ball twists to the penalty spot. Furuhashi sent the ball into the roof of the net, blunting Ibrox in a whisper. For Rangers, a pair of goals early in the second half netted just one point. Still, it's a well-deserved point in a season of change at Ibrox against a heavily favoured Celtic side."

The Sporting News (USA)

The American outlet reckon Beale is down to a prayer in the push for title glory. They wrote: "It'll probably take a miracle for Rangers to beat out Celtic for the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership title after top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi buried an 88th-minute equaliser to prevent a much-needed Rangers victory in the traditional year-opening Old Firm derby. The 2-2 result allowed Celtic to maintain their nine-point lead atop the table with 18 matches remaining in the season. There are two more head-to-head matches that remain, but Celtic's form and sizeable goal difference means they have the decided edge."

A Bola (Portugal)

A Jota-centric watch from Portugal. A Bola stated: "The Portuguese winger Jota was a substitute and came on in the 77th minute, when Rangers had already turned the score around. Remembering: Maeda put Celtic up 1-0 after 5 minutes, but opening the second half, Rangers scored two goals in five minutes: Kent at 47 and Tavernier at 53, from the penalty spot.

"Coach Ange Postecoglou immediately started substitutions, with Jota being the third. The Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi scored the 2-2."

Marca (Spain)

The leading Spanish outlet watched on, stating: "The 431st edition of the 'Old Firm' has been full of alternatives on the scoreboard. However, the 2-2 final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Park leaves the Celtic on the verge of winning the 53rd League in their history, the second in a row."

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