Hibernian 2-2 Rangers: Nine-man visitors subject to last-gasp equalizer

Josh Campbell’s unerring shot from 25 yards earned Hibs a dramatic point

Josh Campbell struck a brilliant stoppage-time equalizer against Rangers of nine as Hibernian halted the Ibrox side’s 100% Scottish Premiership start.

After John Lundstram and substitute Alfredo Morelos were red straight after the break, the hosts’ late blockade finally paid off.

Martin Boyle equalized James Tavernier’s opener penalty before Tom Lawrence’s header restored the lead to Rangers, who now travel to Eindhoven for their Champions League date stricken against PSV.

While Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side lost league points for the first time this season after three straight wins, Hibs salvaged a dramatic draw in their second home game in a row.

The drudgery in the first half gave little hint of the fireworks to come. The opening goal just before half-time was a gift to Rangers, who looked drained after a grueling 2-2 first-leg draw against PSV four days earlier.

Neither side had had a shot on target until Rocky Bushiri inexplicably tugged at Antonio Colak’s jersey as a passback from Ryan Porteous rolled safely to goalkeeper David Marshall.

Colak got the ball nowhere and his bounce was a bit theatrical, but Tavernier capitalized on Bushiri’s folly by deflecting the penalty beyond Marshall’s reach into the far corner of the net.

Hibs’ most notable moment was Lee Johnson making a double substitution before the half-hour, with Ewan Henderson – on a caution – and Paul Hanlon sacrificing for Marijan Cabraja and Christian Doidge as Hibs switched from a back three to a back four.

It would pay off dramatically in the end as Campbell was relieved of his makeshift role at full-back and placed in his preferred midfield spot.

Hibs had managed just two touches in the Rangers box before half-time but equalized in style.

Campbell’s accurate pass freed Elie Youan, who left Tavernier down the left before his cutback was cleverly subbed in by Boyle to cap the first launch of his second Hibs spell.

However, parity only lasted seven minutes. Borna Barisic’s cross screamed for a taker and Lawrence caught her flush in the forehead to restore Rangers’ lead.

Referee Willie Collum then took center stage, dismissing Lundstram for cynically catching Boyle in the ankle to stop a counterattack. While that looked extremely tough, Morelos could have few complaints about his direct red in the 75th minute after swinging an arm in Cabraja’s face.

Hibs began pounding the Rangers defense and Jon McLaughlin thwarted a Lewis Miller header that went just wide of the post before Bushiri’s shot ricocheted agonizingly wide of a team-mate.

But as the clock ticked into the 93rd minute, Campbell coolly controlled 25 yards from his chest and left McLaughlin helpless with a well-placed finish.

Man of the Match – Josh Campbell

Played a role in Hib’s first goal before scoring a stunning equaliser

Morelo’s indiscipline so costly – analysis

Van Bronckhorst could hardly have imagined a more chaotic precursor to his side’s colossal European mission. Trying to stave off Hibs’ avalanche of late pressure with nine men will have taken a toll on legs that already seemed tired.

Morelos has largely contained his indiscipline – the Colombia striker’s previous red card came in March 2019 – but his impetuosity resurfaced and cost the team big bucks.

It won’t convince Van Bronckhorst that he deserves to reclaim a starting spot from Antonio Colak, who was well below his best at Easter Road when his four-game scoring streak came to an end.

Hibs boss Johnson showed he’s not afraid to tear up the game plan and his team looked more comfortable as they reverted to a familiar back four.

However, they struggled for a long time to stay together in attack until the red cards tipped the game in their favor. Boyle and Youan linked superbly for the hosts’ first goal and the French striker seems far better suited to a role on the wing than a central role.

Bushiri’s blood rush to the head unnecessarily left Hibs behind at the break. In fairness, the defender had a strong call for a penalty at 0-0 when he was saved from a corner by Tavernier.

And while Bushiri showed character to put the blunder behind, he had to clean up the silly mistakes that have pockmarked his Easter Road career.

what did they say

Hibs manager Lee Johnson: “We were bad in the first half. At half-time we just reiterated the philosophy, we have to play up front, be aggressive.

“I’m not satisfied. There’s still more to do. We need some ready players. I’ve had a good look at the level now. I expect we’ll play a lot better than we did in the first half.”

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “After the two red cards it became very difficult. We couldn’t keep the ball and it was all about defending.

“We’re working hard to avoid the goal against us, but we just didn’t make it [Lundstram’s red] was a bit tough because he fouled him, but there was no intention of hurting him.”

What’s next?

Rangers are in the Netherlands on Wednesday to face PSV in the second leg of the Champions League play-offs (20:00 CET). Next Saturday (15:00) they face Ross County again in the Premier League, while Hibs travels to St Mirren at the same time.

player of the game

YoungMartin Boyle

Hibernian

1. squad number77player nameYoung

2. squad number32player nameCampbell

3. squad number23player nameyouan

4. squad number1player namemarshal

5. squad number3player nameAbraja

6. squad number5player nameportus

7. squad number9player namedoidge

8. squad number11player namenew

9. squad number4player nameHanlon

10. squad number33player namebushi

11. squad number12player namecadden

12. squad number18player nameHenderson

13. squad number2player namemiller

14. squad number17player nameboyang

15. squad number8thplayer nameDoyle Hayes

ranger

1. squad number2player nametavern

2. squad number11player nameLaurentius

3. squad number33player nameMcLaughlin

4. squad number31player namebaric

5. squad number19player namesand

6. squad number9player namecola

7. squad number6player nameGoldson

8. squad number14player namekent

9. squad number8thplayer nameJack

10. squad number17player nameMany Thanks

11. squad number10player nameDavis

12. squad number4player nameLundstram

13. squad number37player nameArfeld

14. squad number38player nameking

15. squad number20player nameMorelos

lineups

Hibernian

formation 3-5-2

1marshal

5portus33bushi4Hanlon

12cadden18Henderson8thDoyle Hayes11new32Campbell

77Young23youan

• 1marshal
• 5portusBooked at 55 minutesReplaced byboyangat 90+1′protocol
• 33bushiBooked at 44 minutes
• 4HanlonReplaced byAbrajaat 28′protocol
• 12cadden
• 18Henderson18 minutes bookedReplaced bydoidgeat 28′protocol
• 8thDoyle Hayes25 minutes bookedReplaced bymillerat 77′protocol
• 11new
• 32Campbell
• 77Young
• 23youan

substitute

• 2miller
• 3Abraja
• 6Kenneth
• 9doidge
• 10Scallop Tavares
• 17boyang
• 21Dabrowski
• 24McGregor
• 34McClelland

ranger

formation 4-2-3-1

33McLaughlin

2tavern6Goldson19sand31baric

8thJack4Lundstram

17Many Thanks11Laurentius14kent

9cola

• 33McLaughlin
• 2tavern
• 6Goldson20 minutes booked
• 19sand
• 31baric
• 8thJack
• 4LundstramBooked at 66 minutes
• 17Many ThanksReplaced byDavisat 68′protocol
• 11LaurentiusReplaced byArfeldat 62′protocol
• 14kentReplaced bykingat 78′protocol
• 9colaBooked at 52 minutesReplaced byMorelosat 62′protocolBooked at 75 minutes

substitute

• 1McGregor
• 3Yilmaz
• 10Davis
• 20Morelos
• 23Wright
• 30Sakala
• 37Arfeld
• 38king
• 71tillmann

live text

1. Game ends, Hibernian 2, Rangers 2.

2. Second half ends, Hibernian 2, Rangers 2.

3. Jon McLaughlin (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

4. Foul by Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian).

5. Corner, Hibernian. Goal by Borna Barisic.

6. Goal! 2nd Hibernian, 2nd Rangers. Josh Campbell (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Christian Doidge with a header.

7. Substitute, Hibernian. Momodou Bojang replaces Ryan Porteous.

8. attempt failed. Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) header from the center of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Martin Boyle with a cross.

9. attempt saved. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Porteous.

10. attempt failed. Christian Doidge (Hibernian) header from the left side of the six yard box is misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Newell with a cross from a corner.

11. Corner, Hibernian. Cashed in by Steven Davis.

12. attempt blocked. Ryan Porteous (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Boyle.

13. attempt blocked. Josh Campbell (Hibernian) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Porteous.

14. attempt saved. Marijan Cabraja (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Martin Boyle.

15. Corner, Hibernian. Goal by Borna Barisic.

16. attempt failed. Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Cadden.

17. Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

18. Foul by Thody Élie Youan (Hibernian).

19. attempt saved. Lewis Miller (Hibernian) header from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Marijan Cabraja with a cross.

20. attempt failed. Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Martin Boyle.