Celtic striker Tomas Cvancara spoke after the dramatic Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox, where chaotic scenes erupted following the final whistle.
The intense Old Firm clash finished 0-0 after 90 minutes and extra time, forcing the tie into a penalty shootout. Celtic eventually secured victory from the spot, with Cvancara calmly converting the decisive penalty to send his side through.
His goal sparked huge celebrations among the large Celtic support inside Ibrox. Around 8,000 travelling fans had made the trip, and their celebrations quickly spilled onto the pitch.
However, the situation soon turned ugly when several Celtic supporters ran onto the field. The pitch invasion provoked a reaction from Rangers fans at the other end of the stadium, with groups of supporters also entering the pitch and confronting rivals.
Television footage showed Rangers fans running across the field toward the Celtic supporters, while flares and other pyrotechnics were thrown between sections. Reports also suggested that a member of Celtic’s coaching staff was attacked during the disorder.
Despite the chaos, Cvancara reflected on the match and the pressure of taking the winning penalty.
“It was a difficult game, but we stayed calm and trusted each other,” he told Premier Sports. “We have a lot of quality in the team, and I believe anyone stepping up for a penalty will score.
“There was a lot of pressure, especially with our fans on the opposite side of the pitch, but I knew what I had to do and just focused on taking the shot.
“We expected the atmosphere to be intense. We had nearly 8,000 fans behind us, and they were so loud it almost felt like we were playing at home.”
Commentator Rory Hamilton, speaking on Premier Sports, described the disorder unfolding inside the stadium.
“Another supporter has made it onto the pitch, and now more and more are coming from the Rangers end,” he said. “This could quickly get out of control and will be difficult for police to manage.
“Flares are being lit and thrown between supporters. It’s an ugly end to what had been a fantastic football match.”
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo said the team would focus on the victory despite the troubling scenes after the match.
“There’s no derby like this one,” Sinisalo said. “What happened afterwards doesn’t take away from the result. We came here, beat them, and progressed to the next round, and that’s what matters.
“You can see the spirit in the team. Everyone is fighting for the badge, blocking shots, and working hard for each other.
“It’s never easy to come to this stadium and win, especially in a season that hasn’t been simple for us. In moments like this, you need to stick together as a team.”
Leave a Reply