Kyogo strikes twice as Celtic beat Rangers in final

Kyogo knocks in the opening goal at Hampden

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice as Celtic got the better of Old Firm rivals Rangers at a tumultuous Hampden to retain the Viaplay Cup.

Alfredo Morelos reduced the deficit but Rangers could not find a way back against more assured opponents and Celtic missed opportunities to increase the margin of victory in a frantic finish.

With a healthy nine-point lead in the league and just one domestic defeat all season, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is well placed to match the double of his debut campaign, while fans will be dreaming of a fifth treble in seven years.

For Michael Beale, it was a first loss in 15 games in charge of Rangers, which leaves the Ibrox club without a success in this tournament since 2011.

• Reaction & as it happened

Amid the sound and fury from the stands, Celtic started in composed fashion as Rangers struggled to find a rhythm.

The biggest cheers from the febrile crowd were reserved for robust challenges until Kyogo almost found a way through on 20 minutes.

The Celtic hero stumbled slightly as he stole in behind and then found his path blocked by the sprawling Allan McGregor. The veteran goalkeeper got up swiftly to push away a low shot from Jota.

Fashion Sakala provided a couple of menacing thrusts for Rangers before Cameron Carter-Vickers slid in to knock a dangerous cross from Ibrox skipper James Tavernier narrowly beyond his own post.

Kyogo fired just wide of the top corner from 18 yards, slashed at a good chance and headed over the top in a flurry of Celtic attacks before making the breakthrough on 44 minutes.

Celtic patiently worked the ball down the left and, when Daizen Maeda missed Greg Taylor's driven pass at the front post, Kyogo was all alone to stroke in a simple finish from a central position.

Rangers came within a whisker of a rapid response at the start of the second half when Ryan Kent drilled an angled shot against the base of the post and Sakala could only find the side-netting from the rebound. The angle was tight, but it was a bad miss from the winger, who had Morelos screaming for a pass.

Celtic made the most of that let-off, with Kyogo knocking in his second goal of the day soon after. Aaron Mooy and Reo Hatate combined to unlock the Rangers defence, with the latter delivering the telling cross for a sliding Kyogo to force in.

Rangers hauled themselves back into the game on 64 minutes when Morelos was alert to finish as Celtic failed to deal with a lofted free-kick from the left.

That breathed new life into the team in blue, as did a trio of midfield changes but they could not seriously threaten Joe Hart's goal again.

The match grew increasingly stretched and tetchy, with referee Nick Walsh dishing out yellow cards left, right and centre in the closing stages.

With Rangers leaving huge gaps at the back, McGregor made a good save to deny Matt O'Riley and Oh Hyeon-gyu rolled a one-on-one chance wide, but there was to be no ruing those chances for Postecoglou's side.

More to follow.