Rangers B once again proved they know how to win when the pressure is on, lifting the Glasgow Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Celtic at Firhill. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t dominant. But it was a final — and the team deserve a lot of credit for getting over the line.
Summary of Rangers Win Over Celtic in the Glasgow Cup
From the first whistle, it was clear this would be a nervy, tight affair. Celtic edged the early stages and probably looked the more confident side in open play. We lacked aggression, especially out of possession, and the first half felt like one we were desperate to escape from without conceding. Unfortunately, the timing of their equaliser — with just seconds left until the break — was a real sucker punch.
But credit where it’s due: Stevie Smith rallied the boys at half-time, and we came out with renewed purpose. The second half saw the B Team control large spells of possession, limit Celtic’s threat in front of goal, and gradually grow into the occasion — even if we didn’t carve out loads of clear-cut chances ourselves.
Nana Kasanwirjo Makes
The standout moment of the night was the return of Nana Kasanwirjo. Making his first start since November after a long-term knee injury, the Dutch defender marked his comeback with a goal — a brilliant piece of persistence and composure to give Rangers the lead.
After everything he’s been through, seeing him celebrate was a proper feel-good moment. He only played the first 45, but what a shift. With first-team minutes still up for grabs this season, you wouldn’t bet against him making a late push.
Rangers Keeper, Rydnn McGuire Saves During Penalty Shootout
The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes (and a whopping 16 minutes of injury time), before going straight to penalties. That’s when Rydnn McGuire stepped up. The young keeper, who’s been training with the first team and even travelled to Bilbao recently, showed his class by saving Daniel Cummings’ penalty. Then, as the tension rose, Lewis Dobbie fired wide and the Glasgow Cup was ours.
The penalty takers deserve huge praise too — Eadie, Hutton, Wark, Burnside and McCallion all held their nerve. As McGuire said afterwards: “In finals, you don’t have to play your best, it is about getting over the line.” And that’s exactly what we did.
Stevie Smith Spoke to Ranger TV
Smith, who admitted he had a go at some of the senior lads at half-time, was full of praise after the match: “Credit to the boys – they found a way to win.” He also highlighted the winning mentality that’s being built at the Academy. And he’s right. These are the moments that shape players.
Rangers Football Club is built on winning — and whether it’s the first team or the B Team, silverware matters. Something that has been sadly lacking from the mens first team this year.
Let’s not forget, it was an Old Firm final. There’s never anything friendly about that. So, to come out on top again, shows just how much this young squad is learning and developing.
What’s Next?
With the season drawing to a close, all eyes will be on whether players like Kasanwirjo, McGuire and Nsio can push for minutes with the senior squad. The future looks bright — and more importantly, it’s built on a foundation of knowing how to win when it matters most.
Well done, lads. The Glasgow Cup is staying at Ibrox.
💙 Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates, live reactions, and more fan coverage.
📲 Don’t forget to like and share! #Rangers #RangersFC #GlasgowCup