Qudus SalihuIn a seismic Old Firm derby that has completely shifted the momentum of the Scottish Premiership title race, Rangers fans are hailing Youssef Chermiti as a “special player” following his breathtaking, match-winning performance in a 3-1 comeback victory at Celtic Park.
Entering the match under immense scrutiny, the £8 million striker—who has faced significant criticism since his arrival—delivered what many are calling the most “unthinkable” turnaround in recent derby history. With Rangers trailing 1-0 at the break and looking second-best to a dominant Celtic side, Chermiti took the game by the scruff of the neck in a sensational second-half display.
The Portuguese forward sparked the revival just five minutes after the restart, ghosting into the box to tap home a clinical equalizer. Far from finished, he then sent the traveling support into raptures just nine minutes later, ruthlessly capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Auston Trusty to race through and slot past Kasper Schmeichel for his second of the afternoon.
Fans have flooded social media to praise the 21-year-old’s resilience and technical quality, with many noting that his “phenomenal” movement and hold-up play facilitated the space for Mikey Moore to later add a third and seal the points.
”Chermiti has arrived,” wrote one prominent fan account. “To produce that level of performance in the most hostile environment imaginable, after all the noise, shows the mentality of a special player.”
The victory moves Danny Röhl’s side level on points with Celtic, trailing leaders Hearts by just three points. For Chermiti, the “maligned” tag has been firmly erased, replaced by the adoration of a fanbase that now views him as the spearhead of their championship charge
Rabiu Aminu
