Rangers rally to delay Celtic title party

GLASGOW: Rangers came from 2-0 down with 10 men to draw 2-2 at Aberdeen and delay Celtic clinching the Scottish Premiership title on Sunday.

Celtic are still virtually assured of a fourth consecutive title as their lead now stands at 15 points with five games remaining, plus a 42-goal superior goal difference over their Glasgow rivals.

However, Ianis Hagi´s stunning strike in the 95th minute at Pittodrie prevented the title being mathematically sealed and dealt a major blow to Aberdeen´s hopes of European football next season.

Rangers minds were clearly on the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. Interim boss Barry Ferguson made nine changes from the 0-0 draw in the first leg against the Basques with only goalkeeper Liam Kelly and Robin Propper, who was sent off after just 13 minutes on Thursday, retained in the starting line-up.

Despite the change in personnel it was a familiar story for Ferguson as Rangers fell 2-0 down for the sixth time in their last seven league games. Leighton Clarkson´s stunning free-kick opened the scoring on the half hour mark for Aberdeen.

Rangers´ task then got a lot tougher when Ross McCausland got himself sent-off for two quick yellow cards. Pape Gueye doubled the Dons´ lead before half-time to seemingly end the contest and the title race.

Rangers rallied just after the break as Hamza Igamane pounced on hesitant Aberdeen defending to pull a goal back. Aberdeen were then left to rue to a series of missed chances to restore their two-goal cushion.

Kevin Nisbet did have the ball in the net late on but his strike was ruled out for handball after a VAR check. Rangers had rarely threatened an equaliser until deep into stoppage time when Cyriel Dessers crashed a shot off the post. The visitors kept the attack alive and Jefte fed Hagi to curl a sensational strike into the top corner. A point leaves Aberdeen in fifth, locked on 50 points with Hibernian and Dundee United in the battle for a place in the Europa or Europa Conference League next season.