Celtic's Kristoffer Ajer, left and Rangers' Alfredo Morelos battle for the ball, during the Scottish Premiership soccer match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019. The Scottish title race opened up further when Nikola Katic's header gave Rangers a 2-1 victory over leader Celtic in the derby between the Glasgow rivals. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) - The Scottish title race opened up further Sunday when Nikola Katic's header gave Rangers a 2-1 victory over leader Celtic in the derby between the Glasgow rivals.
Rangers went two points behind Celtic with a game in hand in the pursuit of a first Premiership title since 2011 before the team's financial implosion forced it to start again in the fourth tier.
'œThis club hasn't had much success and joy here for a long time,'ť said Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, the former England and Liverpool captain. 'œWe've come here and faced a real big challenge and again we've dominated the majority of the game, so my players deserve an awful lot of credit.'ť
The match at Celtic sparked into life in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper Allan McGregor saved Ryan Christie's penalty for the hosts after Katic pulled back Christopher Jullien in the area.
Rangers went ahead through Ryan Kent's clinical finish in the 36th minute but Celtic was level just six minutes later as Odsonne Edouard diverted Callum McGregor's shot in.
But Katic headed Rangers back in front 11 minutes into the second half, finding the net from Borna Barisic's corner.
Alfredo Morelos was shown his seventh red card for Rangers - and second in three matches - deep into stoppage time when he received a second booking for diving.
Celtic has won the last eight Scottish titles.
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Rangers' Nikola Katic scores his side's second goal of the game, during the Scottish Premiership soccer match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019. The Scottish title race opened up further when Nikola Katic's header gave Rangers a 2-1 victory over leader Celtic in the derby between the Glasgow rivals. (Jeff Holmes/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Celtic's Callum McGregor, centre, celebrates after his shot rebounds off team mate Odsonne Edouard who scored their side's first goal of the game, during the Scottish Premiership soccer match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019. The Scottish title race opened up further when Nikola Katic's header gave Rangers a 2-1 victory over leader Celtic in the derby between the Glasgow rivals. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Rangers' Ryan Kent, left and Celtic's Jeremie Frimpong battle for a header, during the Scottish Premiership soccer match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019. The Scottish title race opened up further when Nikola Katic's header gave Rangers a 2-1 victory over leader Celtic in the derby between the Glasgow rivals. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
The Associated Press