How Carl Starfelt’s understated Celtic heroics helped defeat Rangers

Portuguese winger Jota’s first-half header was enough to end their rivals' Scottish Cup hopes and book a final spot against Championship side Inverness Caly Thistle on June 3. 

Rangers did rally in the second half but were unable to find a way past a resolute Hoops backline led by the outstanding Cameron Carter-Vickers. 

The USA international, who has now played his last game of the season, was colossal at the back despite playing through the pain barrier once again. 

Ange Postecoglou revealed post-match that the former Spurs man has been carrying an injury for a significant period and will now miss the remainder of the campaign to get the treatment required. 

A Player-of-the-Match display to put his side into a cup final was certainly a fitting way to end another outstanding campaign for Carter-Vickers but his defensive partner Carl Starfelt more than played his part too.

READ MORE: Why Celtic's Kyogo and Jota are on song in more ways than one

The sometimes underappreciated Swede was just as solid alongside the American international as the pair continued their remarkable record of having lost just one domestic fixture when starting together.

Here, we break down some of Starfelt’s most influential moments in the semi-final victory as he helped take Celtic to within potentially just two wins of yet another treble. 

Aerial win (4 mins)

Starfelt set the tone for a commanding defensive display in the opening five minutes when he outjumped Alfredo Morelos to win his first aerial duel of the match. 

A ball that looked 50/50, the centre-back towered over the Colombian to easily beat the Rangers striker to the ball. 

It was certainly a sign of things to come with Starfelt going on to win more aerial duels than any other player on the Hampden pitch on Sunday.

He won 10 of the 12 he contested (83 per cent) while by contrast, Morelos failed to win even one of his eight aerial duels against those in green and white in his 86 minutes on the pitch. 

Even on the one occasion Starfelt did lose an aerial duel in his own box, to Ben Davies, he managed to force the Rangers defender to head away from the Hoops goal with Matt O’Riley then clearing the ball. 

Interception (28 mins)

The Sweden international’s reading of the game was also on point at the national Stadion Sunday too. He made a game-high nine interceptions, including a crucial one in the first half to deny a through ball to Morelos. 

Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin found himself with time to pick a pass in the middle of the park after Celtic turned the ball over. 

However, the Belgian’s attempt to get Morelos in behind was read by Starfelt who adjusted well after the turnover to step across the path of the ball and get Celtic back on the front foot. 

Defensively, he was in the right place at the right time throughout, further highlighted by his nine clearances, which were also a game-high. 

Pass to Jota (40mins)

The 27-year-old defender was also quietly effective on the ball. Not always the easiest on the eye in possession, Starfelt did what was required when he was on the ball on Sunday. 

He kept it moving at a decent enough tempo, including a few nice first-time passes in quick succession with Greg Taylor and O’Riley early in the first half.

Later in the half he also fizzed a crisp pass out to the feet of Jota. Perfectly weighted, it allowed the Portuguese winger to quickly get on the attack. 

His pass to Jota on 40 minutes was one of 15 successful forward passes on Sunday, from an attempted 18 (83 per cent).

He also registered nine successful progressive passes, defined by Wyscout as a pass that moves the ball considerably forward, from ten attempted (90 per cent). 

Those nine successful progressive passes were impressively the joint most in the Celtic team, along with Taylor. 

Pass to Kyogo (63mins)

Starfelt’s fine performance was encapsulated in the 63rd minute when he stepped over the halfway line to cut out a pass from James Tavernier. 

Getting in front of forward Fashion Sakala, Starfelt was also too quick, and too strong, for the intended recipient of Tavernier’s pass, John Lundstram. 

Swatting the former Sheffield United midfielder aside, not only was Starfelt able to win the ball back by proactively cutting the ball out high up the pitch, but his touch was also measured into the path of Kyogo. 

READ MORE: Cameron Carter-Vickers: Hero showing puts him in Celtic great debate

This led to the Japanese forward’s fierce drive from the edge of the box that just whistled over Allan McGregor’s goal.

Conclusion

One of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings, Starfelt has perhaps not always received the recognition he deserves, certainly compared to Carter-Vickers. 

His awkwardness on the ball and some high-profile errors in his early games in the hoops have often seen him deemed the lesser talented of the two.

The best defensive partnerships take two, though, and Starfelt more than plays his part, as he showed once again on Sunday. 

With Carter-Vickers now out for the final stretch of the season, Starfelt, alongside Yuki Kobayashi, will be tasked with leading Postecoglou’s side over the finish line in the league and picking up the final piece of the treble on June 3.