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Champion by a goal Rangers claim Scottish title from Celtic with 6-1 winPosted: Sunday May 25, 2003 12:26 PMUpdated: Sunday May 25, 2003 2:28 PM
GLASGOW (Reuters) -- Rangers won its 50th Scottish title on goal difference on Sunday when it beat Dunfermline 6-1 to pip Glasgow rival Celtic by just one goal. Defending champion Celtic, which won 4-0 at Kilmarnock on the final day of the season, suffered its second major disappointment in five days after losing to Porto in the UEFA Cup final. "It's a fine line between winning and losing and there was a lot of tension all afternoon but I'm just delighted," said Rangers manager Alex McLeish. Rangers's goal difference was plus 73 to Celtic's 72. "These players have exceeded my expectations this season and I'm really proud of their efforts," McLeish said. It is the first time since 1986 that the title has been won on goal difference. If the teams had finished level on goal difference and goals scored, the title would have been decided by a playoff, the first since 1905. Rangers, which has set the pace in the league for most of the season, is now heading for a domestic treble. It has already won the League Cup, beating Celtic in the final, and plays Dundee in the Scottish Cup final on May 31. "We will be going for the treble and I will be confident about Rangers winning that trophy...," McLeish added.
On Sunday, Dutchman Michael Mols gave Rangers an early lead before Jason Dair hit a shock equalizer for Dunfermline. But Rangers was dominant throughout and goals from Claudio Caniggia, Shota Arveladze, Ronald de Boer, Steven Thompson and a last-minute penalty from Mikel Arteta took its league goal count past 100 for the season. "Getting so much excitement in the last minute of the last game and winning it means so much to me," said Rangers' Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso. "It's just a fantastic feeling for me, but my dream is to finish my career here." Celtic were also never in trouble but appeared to be suffering mentally from their UEFA Cup final exertions in Seville. Striker Chris Sutton scored twice and Alan Thompson scored and missed a penalty. Monumental effort "I've got nothing but praise for the players and our fans. It's been a monumental effort from them," said Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. "Congratulations to Rangers but I'm exceptionally proud of my team for their efforts this season and the way football is going, it might be a long time before you see another Scottish team back in a European final." "I made a statement earlier this season about our team being astonishingly brilliant in one game but I meant all season. It's good to tell them that today. "There is no doubt that the crowd are the best supporters going and between them and the players, they've got a club to be proud of." In the day's other game, Hearts beat Dundee 1-0 to finish
third -- 34 points behind the Glasgow giants who gathered 97
points in 38 games.
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