Youssef Chermiti hat-trick fires Rangers to 4-2 win over leaders Hearts
Rangers turned a nervy encounter into a statement victory on Sunday as Youssef Chermiti’s hat-trick powered a 4-2 turnaround over table-topping Hearts at Ibrox. The home side recovered from two separate Hearts leads to grab three points in a match that will be replayed in supporters’ minds for some time.
End-to-end drama before Chermiti seizes control
The game burst into life early when Marc Leonard prodded home after neat build-up play put Hearts in front. Rangers were swept by misfortune soon after when a defensive scramble ended with Michael Steinwender diverting a close-range effort into his own net to level the score.
Hearts then restored their advantage when Cláudio Braga met a cross to head past the goalkeeper, silencing the Ibrox crowd. Rangers, however, found a response before half-time when Chermiti curled home to make it 2-2, a strike that settled the hosts and set up a gripping second half.
Early in the second period Chermiti rose to head Rangers in front, his timing and aerial power proving decisive. The forward completed his treble late on with a composed finish that capped a rampant afternoon and sent the supporters into jubilant celebration.
Rangers’ manager hailed the performance and the team’s resilience, saying, "We fully deserved over the 90 minutes to win. We have developed a lot of resilience since I came here. " The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected the significance of the victory for the home side as belief in the title challenge grows.
Aftermath: injuries, optimism and the title picture
Hearts’ head coach spoke candidly after the defeat, praising his players’ courage while acknowledging the frustrations. He noted that the team’s biggest vulnerability came when they had bodies forward and conceded three goals from situations in which they had possession in the opposition half. He added that the players give everything for the shirt and insisted the club remain optimistic about the season ahead.
The coach provided an update on injured players, saying striker Lawrence Shankland will likely be out until the back end of March, while midfielder Cammy Devlin has a chance of being available for the Aberdeen match on February 28 (ET). The result also ended a significant run: this was the first time Hearts had lost a Premiership match after scoring the opening goal since October 30, 2024, ending a 31-game sequence.
The broader weekend produced its own drama elsewhere, with a late stoppage-time goal in another fixture earlier in the day adding extra spice to the contest at Ibrox. That strike had shifted momentum in the title race before kick-off and meant Rangers needed all three points to close the gap on the leaders.
For Rangers, the win gives fresh momentum. The manager pointed to the side’s recent points haul and resilience as evidence of progress, insisting the squad has developed since he took charge. For Hearts, the challenge now is to regroup quickly with a run of home fixtures providing an opportunity to recover ground.
Sunday’s encounter will be remembered for its high stakes, quickfire goals and a forward in Chermiti who once again proved decisive on the biggest stage. With the season entering a critical phase, both clubs will take plenty to work on from a pulsating Premiership afternoon.
