Furuhashi scores twice to help Celtic retain the Viaplay Cup

• Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi scored a brace on Sunday as his side defeated rivals Rangers 2-1 in the Viaplay Cup final
• Rangers’ only goal was scored by Alfredo Morelos in the 64th minute

Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi scored two goals on Sunday as his side defeated rivals Rangers 2-1 in the Viaplay Cup final.

Furuhashi took his tally this season to 24 goals as he repeated his double from last year’s final. Rangers’ only goal was scored by Alfredo Morelos.

Speaking after his side won the Viaplay Cup final, manager Ange Postecoglou said it’s a day he will remember for the rest of his life.

“Moments like this, you want to get the whole experience. You watch the players, the fans, what it means to them. I take great pride in it. It’s a day I’ll remember forever. We’ve been consistent for a very long time. We don’t let our standards slip in terms of our football.” BBC Sports quotes Ange Postecoglou. 

Celtic fans have a reason to smile as everything is currently going there way this season. Besides winning the Viaplay Cup for the seventh time in nine years, The Celts are on top of the Scottish Premiership, with a healthy nine-points lead. They have suffered just one loss since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Meanwhile, Rangers suffered their first loss yesterday since Michael Beale took over. They had gone for 14 games without losing until they met Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final on Sunday. They currently have 64 points on the Scottish Premiership, nine behind leaders Celtic.

Kyogo Furuhashi The Celtic Hero 

Celtic started the game in a composed fashion with brilliant play at Hampden Park in Glasgow. On the other hand, Rangers struggled to get into the game.

The fans remained calm until Kyogo almost found a way through in the 20th minute. The Japanese forward stole in behind and was on the verge of scoring the opener but the sprawling Allan McGregor blocked his way.

Rangers looked dangerous as Fashion Sakala moved forward several times causing panic in the Celtic defence. Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers nearly scored an own goal as he knocked a dangerous cross from James Tavernier beyond his own post.

The wait for the match’s opening goal eventually came to an end in the 44th minute as Kyogo Furuhashi found himself unmarked in the Rangers’ box. Greg Taylor sent a dangerous driven pass into the box but the target at the front post, who was Daizen Maeda missed. The ball went to Furuhashi, who was clearly not missing that golden opportunity.

Rangers nearly found the equalizer at the start of the second half but both Ryan Kent and Sakala missed their opportunities. Things went from bad to worse for Rangers as Furuhashi scored Celtic’s second goal of the evening in the Viaplay Cup final.

Reo Hatate and Aaron Mooy combined well to unlock Rangers’ defence before the former delivered the ball into the box for the Japan international to score.

Michael Baele’s boys got back into the game in the 64th minute, thanks to a goal by Morelos. But in the end, it was Celtic who won the match despite the pressure from Rangers in the dying minutes. The match’s referee issued  several yellow cards in the closing stages of the game.