Nikica Jelavic was Rangers' hero as his goal secured a 2-1 win for the Co-operative Insurance Cup holders against Celtic.
Jelavic wins Gers first silverware of the season
Nikica Jelavic was Rangers' hero as his extra-time goal secured a 2-1 win for the Co-operative Insurance Cup holders against bitter rivals Celtic at Hampden Park.
Rangers opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Steven Davis collected possession and ran at Celtic's defence before slotting a pin-point shot past Fraser Forster's arm and in off the left-hand upright.
Gers' lead did not last for long with Georgios Samaras flicking on Emilio Izaguirre's left-wing cross and Joe Ledley arrived right on time in the middle to head home past the helpless Neil Alexander.
Rangers thought they had won a penalty on 33 minutes when Jelavic went down in the area under Thomas Rogne's tackle, but soon after Craig Thomson gave the decision he then booked the Croatian striker for diving.
Extra-time was needed with no further goals in normal time, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 98th minute when Jelavic slotted home after latching onto Vladimir Weiss' quickly-taken free-kick.
Celtic huffed and puffed late on, but it was not to be for Neil Lennon's men, who finished the match a man light after Emilio Izaguirre was deservedly shown a straight red for bringing down Vladimir Weiss.
The first moment of controversy came in the 15th minute when Mark Wilson went crashing to the ground inside the penalty box after a challenge by Rangers' Sasa Papac but referee Thomson was unimpressed.
Izaguirre was finding some joy down the left flank as Kyle Lafferty struggled to keep track.
However, in the 21st minute it was Kris Commons' cross from wide on the left which Parkhead skipper Scott Brown dived to meet eight yards out but the ball flew past Alexander's right-hand post.
Compounded
Two minutes later that miss was compounded when Celtic found themselves behind.
Davis still had it all to do when he picked up a loose ball but he drove at the Hoops' box before his shot from 25 yards beat Forster and went in off the post.
Celtic responded positively and on the half-hour mark they were level when Izaguirre's deflected cross was flicked on by Samaras and Ledley stole in to head past Alexander from inside the six-yard box.
It was breathtaking drama and Rangers' fans thought their team had been awarded a penalty a couple of minutes later when Jelavic went down in the box as he went past Rogne.
There was some confusion as referee Thomson appeared to immediately point to the spot but then gave a free-kick to the Parkhead men and booked the Ibrox striker, presumably for simulation.
Rangers started the second half strongly with Forster forced to push a Steven Whittaker drive past the post for a corner while skipper David Weir and Jelavic both had efforts which failed to hit the target.
Amid all that, Papac almost guided a Commons cut back past Alexander, the Ibrox defender happy to see the ball fly wide for a corner which came to nothing.
On the hour mark there was another Rangers penalty claim when Wilson appeared to use an arm to take the ball away from Maurice Edu as Celtic defended their box but again Thomson shook his head to the anger of the Light Blues' support.
Ki Sung-yong replaced the injured Brown in the 65th minute and then Loovens - to sarcastic cheers from the Rangers fans - came on for Rogne but meanwhile play continued to race from end to end.
Kyle Hutton replaced Madjid Bougherra with eight minutes remaining and with the game looking to be heading for extra-time.
Smothered
Moments later, following a Celtic corner, Ledley had attempt from 10 yards which was gratefully smothered by Alexander.
Then, after Hutton had bundled Izaguirre to the ground 30 yards out, Alexander made a comfortable save from Ki's free-kick.
Weiss replaced Lafferty just before the game moved in to extra-time.
Celtic looked fresher at the end of the 90 minutes but five minutes in to extra-time Forster made a great save from a Jelavic free-kick, re-adjusting himself at the last second to flick the ball over the bar.
However, two minutes later the Croatian put Rangers ahead again when he out-paced Mulgrew to latch on to a quickly-taken Weiss free-kick and his shot trundled past Forster and hit the post before rolling along the goalline and spinning into the net as Izaguirre tried in vain to clear.
Paddy McCourt came on for Commons but in the 110th minute Rangers had the chance to seal the win in a breakaway but Jelavic was pulled down at the edge of the box by Mulgrew, who picked up a yellow card.
El-Hadji Diouf replaced Jelavic and set up Weiss with minutes remaining on another Rangers breakaway but his shot was blocked by Forster.
Then, Whittaker blocked a goal-bound shot by Gary Hooper to concede a corner before Izaguirre was shown a straight red for blocking Weiss as the Ibrox substitute made to run through to an open goal, with Forster up in attack to add his weight to the Hoops' threat at a corner.
It was the last incident of an incident-packed game which ended with Rangers picking up the first trophy of the season.
