You know a Rangers player has done something a little special when even Chris Sutton is praising it.
And the Celtic-mad pundit simply had to accept that the manner in which Philippe Clement’s side snatched a late – if deserved – point in Sunday’s enthralling Old Firm derby at Ibrox was worthy of admiration.
As Matt O’Riley put the visitors 2-0 up inside the opening 45 minutes, chipping a Panenka penalty down the middle with a finish that would make even an ice sculpture sweat, Rangers looked destined to succumb to a defeat which could have proven to be a big turning point in the title race.
And we’re not just talking about the points on offer, either. A heavy defeat at home to their bitter rivals would have done nothing for Rangers’ self-confidence.
But it’s testament to the mentality Clement has instilled in his squad that the hosts flew out of the blocks after the interval, James Tavernier slamming in a penalty and Abdallah Sima eventually drawing the sides level after Cyriel Dessers saw a strike of his own ruled out by VAR.
Even after Adam Idah plunged a dagger right into Rangers’ hearts – firing home what looked for all the world to be the winner in the 87 minute – the boys in blue still mustered the strength and the resolve to land one last blow and take Celtic with them.
Rabbi Matondo rescues Rangers against Celtic
“That is brilliant,” Sutton said, albeit pretty reluctantly, as Rabbi Matondo cut inside and repeated last week’s Hibernian screamer with a finish that could yet earn him a place in Rangers folklore (Sky Sports, 7 April, 2pm).
“The finish is stunning. He sets it into that far top corner. A wonderful finish. Joe Hart (the Celtic goalkeeper) has no chance.”
That was only Matondo’s sixth goal of the entire campaign. Either side of a spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury, however, the one-time Manchester City whizzkid now has four in his last five Scottish Premiership appearances, the Liverpool-born flyer finally adding a much-needed ruthless streak to his game while stepping up with some big contributions at some very big moments.
“100 per cent (this is the most important goal of my career). Especially in a game like this,” Matondo tells the Daily Record, taking inspiration from Kevin de Bruyne’s own stunner for City vs Crystal Palace some 24 hours earlier.
“We know how much it means to everyone involved with Rangers. So to get a goal like that and to help the team get something from the game was obviously a moment I’ll keep forever.
“Did I know it was in as soon as I hit it? I can’t really remember right now. It’s all a blur. I just thought to take my man on and get a shot off. Thankfully it’s flown into the top corner.”
Philippe Clement’s side keep their title advantage
Matondo was also keen to highlight Clement’s role in his 93 minute equaliser, the Belgian having spoken publicly about his belief in the 23-year-old and now seeing that faith rewarded.
“It’s something we have been working on with him and the players for a couple of months,” the ex-Schalke ace adds. “I try to use examples of good players, to show my team things they can improve.
“I ran over to the manager because before the game we were speaking and he asked me if I saw Kevin De Bruyne’s goal. We work a lot in training and he works a lot with me on cutting in and getting shots off.
“So, I said to him ‘yeah, I did’. But it wasn’t quite low in the corner the way he wants me to do it. But he said that when you get to that level like De Bruyne, that’s basically his low corner, the top corner.
“He said ‘you will get there maybe one day’, and I said, ‘I’ll show you today!’ and yeah, I think I showed it quite well! So, I ran over to him to embrace him. It was nice.”
