THE CELTIC STAR gave it a name and Odsonne Edouard made sure that it stuck. There was genuine belief among the home support that they were going to win the league and twice that day they went ahead.
An early Boyata mistake got them off to a dream start but Tom Rogic got Celtic back on level terms with an outstanding goal, a curled effort into the corner. But we went behind again and the noise levels went through the roof as Scott Brown was fouled with a late challenge while making a clearance from his own half.
11' ⚽️ @Tom_Rogic
45' ⚽️ @MDembele_10
69' ⚽️ @Oedouard222 years ago today in the Glasgow derby… #RANCEL 🔜 pic.twitter.com/sR3vQYn3MC
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 11, 2020
How they cheered! Willie Collum did not blow his whistle, allowing the advantage and we had that wonderful piece of Rangers TV co-commentary from Hugh Burns, as a result ‘Wits the goalie daein’ Tom?’…Moussa Dembele delightfully equalised with a lovely lob just on the stroke of half-time.
That Tory tosser flagged and screamed ‘Red, Red, Red,’ into his mic and wee Willie couldn’t wait to oblige. Jozo walked and Ibrox rejoiced. Yet Rodgers – to be fair to him – had a plan for these situations. When down to ten don’t accept the inevitable, do something about it. On came Odsonne Edouard, still at that stage a young player trying to establish himself at the club, and Celtic went with two up top with ten men and the scores level on such a crucial day in the title race.
The pass from Dembele to Edouard on the right wing, his cut inside, before steadying himself and curling the most wonderful shot into the corner of the net. It was a glorious moment, significant too. It absolutely destroyed them them season, bursting their bubble so much that by the time they played Celtic in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup a few weeks later – their fans had loudly cheered that cup draw, believing that their time has come – they were a spent force, shattered, devoid of confidence, the arrogance all gone and the scoreline flattered them, Celtic 4 the Rangers 0.
That was because of what the ten men did on Beautiful Sunday. So Tom Rogic, Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard thank you for the goals. Scott Brown, for the assist and for the sunglasses at at the end – thank you. Even Brendan Rodgers, thanks for the thought-out tactical trick that helped turn probable defeat into a Beautiful Sunday…
Oh and Morelos had a chance at the death to level the score – he was only inches from the goals with the ball at his feet, somehow Scott Bain, who The Celtic Star told you that he would be making his debut, saved. It was both the best and worst Morelos miss and their relief atheism equalising ended rapidly – another beautiful moment from that afternoon on this day in 2018.
On this day in 2018, Celtic come from 1-0 and 2-1 down to beat Rangers 3-2 with 10 men. Rogic, @MDembele_10 and @Oedouard22 with the goals. Celtic effectively seal the league title. pic.twitter.com/Be1hsLcIzj
— CelticLisboa (@CelticLisboaa) March 11, 2020
And don’t you think we would all enjoy another one? When do we play them at Ibrox next?…
Of course Beautiful Sunday had a long lasting implication. Celtic will go to Ibrox on Sunday with only 800 supporters stuck down on that daft wee corner. Their fans had had enough of our ‘over celebrating’ in the ‘Free Broomloan’ and forced through a change in the allocation, seriously damaging the spectacle that this Glasgow Derby brings as a result.
Celtic responded in kind with a tit-for-tat reduction in their support coming to Paradise and it was all because of what happened on Beautiful Sunday.
For Odsonne Edouard it was also the day that he truly arrived as a top Celtic striker, now being widely regarded as the best one since the King of Kings, Henrik Larsson. Anyone else feel like a song?…
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