Rangers Held 2-2 by Hibernian in Dramatic Premiership Season Finale

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Keabetswe Monyake May 18 19

Rangers Share the Spoils with Hibernian in Final Day Thriller

Fans at Easter Road were treated to one last rollercoaster in the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season as Rangers and Hibernian delivered a breathless 2-2 draw on a sunlit Saturday in Leith. An impressive crowd of 18,793 watched as both teams traded blows, with neither side able to find a winner in a match that summed up the unpredictable nature of Rangers' campaign.

Right from the kick-off, the intent was visible. Rangers wasted no time putting Hibernian under pressure, capitalizing on a moment of panic in the Hibs penalty box. An error from the home goalkeeper gifted the ball to the visitors, and Cyriel Dessers pounced with characteristic sharpness. Nico Raskin—always influential in Rangers' midfield engine room—was on hand with the assist, registering his 11th of the season. Dessers kept his cool with a clinical finish, making the most of yet another defensive lapse from Hibs early on.

But Hibernian were never likely to roll over easily, especially with the home crowd roaring them on. Just 16 minutes in, Kieran Bowie latched onto a loose ball, slotting home past the stranded Rangers keeper. The atmosphere inside Easter Road shifted, energy crackled, and you could sense Hibs growing in confidence with every pass.

The rest of the first half saw chances at both ends. Rangers pressed high but struggled with their usual Achilles' heel—defensive organization. Hibs took note, constantly probing for openings down the flanks, but the half finished level as both teams missed out on golden opportunities to grab a second.

Second Half: More Goals, Missed Chances, and Late Twists

If anyone thought the tempo would drop after the break, they were mistaken. Rangers, desperate to end their stuttering season on a high, came out flying. Their aggression paid off as Nico Raskin got on the scoresheet himself, drilling in a shot that fizzed past the goalkeeper, putting the visitors back in the driving seat midway through the half. For a moment, it looked like the Glasgow side might finally see the game out and snatch all three points.

But Rangers have made a habit of letting leads slip this year, and Saturday was no different. With the clock ticking down and substitutions reshuffling both squads, Hibernian found their moment. Martin Boyle, always a nuisance for opposition defenders, darted into the box and met a cross with a tidy finish, tying things at two apiece and sending the home end into raptures.

Hibs manager made smart moves from the bench, bringing on T. Youan, D. Gayle, and D. Levitt at key moments to inject fresh legs and sharpen their counter-attacks. Rangers, for their part, continued to push but found the Hibs defense resolute, with the home side determined not to concede again in front of their fans.

This result means the Glasgow giants close the chapter on a frustrating season—one where they created plenty of chances but struggled to turn dominance into wins. Defensive uncertainty, lapses of concentration, and an inability to close out games have haunted them time and again. The game at Easter Road was a microcosm of these struggles: flashes of attacking brilliance overshadowed by costly mistakes at the back.

For Hibernian, this draw highlights their battling nature and capacity to bounce back when the odds are against them. Their substitutes played a real part in swinging the momentum, and their set-piece routines continue to cause teams problems. With both teams now turning their attention to the off-season, there's plenty to chew over for the managers and supporters alike.

Comments (19)
  • smaily PAtel
    smaily PAtel May 18, 2025

    From a tactical perspective, the 2‑2 result can be deconstructed by analysing possession metrics; Rangers held 52% of the ball, yet their final third conversion rate lingered at a paltry 8%., The defensive line displayed a high line that was repeatedly exposed by Hibs' quick transitions, leading to three clear‑cut chances for the home side., Nico Raskin's midfield passes averaged 2.1 per minute, indicating a high work rate, but the same player also committed two ill‑timed fouls that resulted in set‑piece opportunities for the opposition., Cyriel Dessers' expected goals (xG) stood at 0.84, reflecting a clinical finish given the limited supply, though the six‑yard box was left vulnerable during the second half., Goalkeeper Ross Stewart made four saves, yet two of them came after lapses in positioning, a pattern that has manifested in 57% of Rangers' matches this season., Substitutions were timed at the 65th and 72nd minutes; the former introduced fresh legs, the latter attempted to shore up the backline, but the timing proved insufficient., The set‑piece execution, particularly the corner routine on 58 minutes, resulted in a corner that directly led to Martin Boyle's equaliser, underscoring the importance of rehearsed strategies., In summary, the data points highlight that possession dominance alone does not guarantee points; converting chances and maintaining structural integrity remain paramount.

  • Hemanth NM
    Hemanth NM May 18, 2025

    It's a reminder that football can be as unpredictable as monsoon rain in Kolkata.

  • Mayur Sutar
    Mayur Sutar May 18, 2025

    The way the teams kept battling after the break shows the true spirit of the game; both sides deserved applause for never giving up. Rangers' fans can take pride in the relentless pressure they applied, even if the final whistle didn't swing their way. Hibernian's supporters should relish the comeback that lifted the atmosphere at Easter Road. As the season closes, these moments become the stories we tell each other around the kitchen table, reminding us why we love the sport.

  • Erica Watson-Currie
    Erica Watson-Currie May 18, 2025

    In the quiet after the final whistle the field becomes a canvas of possibilities. The draw is a mirror reflecting the uncertain path of ambition and humility. One can see the echo of each player's heartbeat in the grass.

  • Mark Pelletier
    Mark Pelletier May 18, 2025

    When we look at the narrative of the season it reads like a novel with chapters of hope and chapters of frustration. Rangers entered the final day with a desire to rewrite the ending, a hope that was both noble and precarious. The early goal by Dessers offered a glimpse of that redemption, a flash of possibility in the mid‑summer sun. Yet football, as anyone who has ever watched it knows, is a game of moments and missed chances. The second goal for Hibs came not from a sudden burst of skill but from a series of small errors that piled up like fallen dominoes. Each pass that missed its target, each defensive lapse, contributed to the larger picture of a team searching for a cohesive identity. The midfield, where Nico Raskin usually dictates tempo, struggled to connect the lines, a symptom of a deeper fatigue that settled over the squad. The crowd at Easter Road amplified every roar, turning the stadium into a living entity that fed the players with energy. Substitutions, those tactical time‑outs, were made with intention but often felt like band‑aid on a deeper wound. The manager's changes did inject fresh legs, yet the underlying issue of organization remained. As the clock ticked, the game became a study in patience, a lesson that sometimes the best we can do is to stay present. The equaliser by Martin Boyle was a poetic punctuation, a reminder that persistence can rewrite fate. In the aftermath, both camps will dissect the footage, looking for patterns, for the hidden clues that explain why the points slipped away. Fans will debate, pundits will argue, and the players will return to training, each carrying the weight of that draw. Ultimately, the season's story will be measured not just in trophies but in the resilience shown when the lights dimmed. So when the next chapter begins, the lessons from this finale will echo in every decision, every pass, every heartbeat on the pitch.

  • Cheyenne Walker
    Cheyenne Walker May 18, 2025

    Ah, the drama of a 2‑2 draw – because nothing says 'we tried' like sharing points like a polite handshake at a tea party.

  • Darrell Kuykendall
    Darrell Kuykendall May 18, 2025

    Well, you’ve nailed the sarcasm there, but honestly the lads gave it their all, and that’s what matters – keep the faith, the next season can be brighter!

  • Dean Obijekwu
    Dean Obijekwu May 18, 2025

    I’m quietly impressed by how both sides kept the pressure alive right to the final whistle.

  • finlay moss
    finlay moss May 18, 2025

    Actually the stats show Rangers had 58% possession not 52% as you think, and their shot count was 18 vs Hibs 12 – numbers dont lie.

  • Carl Gough
    Carl Gough May 18, 2025

    Let’s give credit where it’s due – the game was a rollercoaster of grit and flair, and both squads earned a standing ovation.

  • Jason Underhill
    Jason Underhill May 18, 2025

    Sure, but if you ask me the draw was just a symptom of sloppy defense on both sides 😊.

  • Kirsten Wilson
    Kirsten Wilson May 18, 2025

    the match was a meta‑layered showcase of tactical entropy versus structured chaos

  • Michelle Roque
    Michelle Roque May 18, 2025

    yeah kinda felt like a random glitch in the system

  • Subi Sambi
    Subi Sambi May 18, 2025

    Honestly the season has been a masterclass in mediocrity; the team cannot seem to finish what they start.

  • shivam Agarwal
    shivam Agarwal May 18, 2025

    It’s easy to focus on the negatives, but many fans still find moments of joy in the effort shown. The club’s community work this year has also made a positive impact off the pitch. Let’s keep supporting the broader vision.

  • MD Imran Ansari
    MD Imran Ansari May 18, 2025

    For anyone analyzing the game, note the xG disparity – Rangers at 1.3 versus Hibs at 0.9 – that tells a story beyond the final score. 📊

  • walaal sanjay
    walaal sanjay May 18, 2025

    While that data is interesting, one must remember that Scottish football thrives on pride, not just numbers; the passion of the fans is the true metric!;

  • Umesh Nair
    Umesh Nair May 18, 2025

    i dont think stats really matter that much, the heart of the game is pure fun not numbers.

  • Jo Simpkinson
    Jo Simpkinson May 18, 2025

    So we end the season with a draw, a perfect metaphor for life’s endless balancing act.

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