Celtic In Total Panic After South African Star Olwethu Makhanya Inspires Rangers to Insane Victory

Olwethu Makhanya Shines as Rangers Thrash St Johnstone 4-0 to Close in on Celtic

South African defender Olwethu Makhanya delivered a composed defensive performance as Rangers returned to winning ways with an emphatic 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, 24 October 2026.

The convincing result at Ibrox Stadium was a significant boost for the Glasgow giants, who moved into second place on the league table, just one point behind arch-rivals Celtic, although the leaders still had a match to play. The result has intensified the pressure at the top of the Scottish Premiership as Rangers continue their pursuit of domestic success.

Makhanya, who has been representing South Africa in European football, started at centre-back and completed the full 90 minutes as Rangers secured an important clean sheet. His performance demonstrated composure, discipline and an ability to contribute to the team’s build-up play while remaining alert to defensive responsibilities.

The 24-year-old defender recorded 54 accurate passes from 63 attempts, achieving an impressive passing accuracy of 86%. He also completed three progressive passes from nine attempts and successfully delivered seven of 10 passes into the final third, highlighting his contribution to Rangers’ efforts to move the ball forward from the back.

Defensively, Makhanya remained influential throughout the contest. He registered 11 recoveries, two interceptions, three clearances and one outfield block. He also recorded 79 touches, underlining his involvement in Rangers’ dominant performance.

His individual display earned him a match rating of 7.2 out of 10, according to the supplied statistics, as he helped the home side keep St Johnstone from finding the back of the net.

While Makhanya provided defensive stability, Rangers’ attacking players took centre stage in front of their supporters. Kevin Kelsy scored twice, finding the net in the 29th and 66th minutes. Ryan Naderi added the second goal in the 61st minute before substitute Tochi Chukwuani completed the scoring in the 87th minute.

Rangers controlled much of the encounter, registering 21 shots compared with St Johnstone’s nine. The hosts also enjoyed 61.3% possession and managed nine shots on target, demonstrating their superiority across the match.

The victory was particularly important after Rangers dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Dundee in their previous league outing. Returning to winning ways in such convincing fashion will provide renewed confidence as they approach a demanding period of fixtures.

For South African football supporters, Makhanya’s contribution offers another encouraging development to follow as Bafana Bafana continue to monitor players competing abroad.

His ability to complete the match, maintain a clean sheet and contribute to Rangers’ passing game will be a positive takeaway from the weekend.

With Rangers now breathing down Celtic’s neck, the battle for the Scottish Premiership title is gathering momentum. Makhanya and his teammates will hope to maintain their winning form as they attempt to turn their improved league position into a sustained challenge for the championship.

Source https://x.com/A_B_Ditlhobolo/status/2114028735997350311

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