Chermiti hat-trick fires Rangers to dramatic 4-2 win over leaders Hearts
Youssef Chermiti's first career hat-trick for Rangers produced a seismic Ibrox afternoon as the hosts overturned a two-goal deficit to beat table-toppers Hearts 4-2. The result trims the gap at the summit to two points and casts new life into a three-way title race.
Fast and furious: a game that swung three times
The match burst into life inside the opening exchanges. Marc Leonard seized on a loose moment to spark Hearts' opener, combining quickly with Claudio Braga before slamming the ball past the goalkeeper. Rangers responded almost immediately when a driven effort rebounded off the crossbar and Michael Steinwender, under pressure, diverted the ball into his own net to level.
Hearts regained the lead when Steinwender atoned for his earlier error by supplying a superb cross that Braga met with a header to make it 2-1. But Rangers would not be denied: a rebound from a blocked effort allowed Chermiti to hammer home the equaliser and send the sides in level at the break.
Chermiti takes centre stage and Rohl hails character
Early in the second half, Chermiti edged Rangers in front with a near-post header from a pinpoint Andreas Skov Olsen delivery. The goal swung momentum decisively to Ibrox, where the crowd's energy proved infectious. The hosts then caught Hearts on the break late on; Djeidi Gassama led the counter and slipped the finish to Chermiti, who composed himself to seal the three-goal haul and a memorable victory.
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl praised his players' resilience after the match. He highlighted the squad's character in coming back twice and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum, saying the team had shown "big personality" and that the atmosphere at the stadium had been the best since his arrival. Rohl singled out Chermiti's work ethic and hunger, noting that big matches are for big players and that the striker had stepped up when it mattered.
Implications for the title race and the season ahead
The win underlined Rangers' newfound habit of grinding out results from adverse positions; this season they have taken 10 points from losing positions, a tally bettered only by one other side. With Hearts' cushion now cut to just two points, Rohl insisted the contest has become a three-team race and urged his players to keep the belief and consistency he has been cultivating since his arrival.
For Hearts, the defeat will sting. They twice found the net and twice surrendered the lead, punished by defensive lapses and a clinical opponent. The visitors huffed for meaningful openings after the interval but were toothless when it mattered, and the defensive errors proved costly in a match billed as one of the season's most significant.
Beyond the headline, the contest felt like a season-defining afternoon — not only for the three points but for the statement it made about character and momentum. Rangers will head into their next fixtures buoyed by belief; Hearts must regroup quickly if they are to repel what looks set to be an intense run-in.
