Defender Has Strong Showing in Celtic's Draw Against Rangers
Cameron Carter-Vickers commanded a strong performance in Celtic's dreary 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox, earning Player of the Match honors despite the disappointing spectacle that left both sets of supporters frustrated with the lack of quality on display.
The 27-year-old American center-back was the standout performer in what pundits described as one of the poorest Old Firm encounters in recent memory. Carter-Vickers dominated defensively with 13 clearances, including 11 headers, while maintaining exceptional distribution with a match-high 66 completed passes at an impressive 93% accuracy rate. His aerial dominance was particularly notable, as he won four of five duels in the air and never allowed himself to be dribbled past during the entire 90 minutes.
In a game that lacked real quality and creativity from both sides, Carter-Vickers provided the defensive stability that kept Celtic in the contest. His ball-playing expertise from the heart of the backline was evident as he completed seven passes into the final third, trying to spark Celtic's lackluster attacking play. The defender won his only tackle attempt and made three crucial interceptions while showing his versatility with a perfect dribble success rate.
However, despite his consistent performances at the highest level of Scottish football and his status as Celtic's most important defender, Carter-Vickers was surprisingly omitted from Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT squad for the September international friendlies, raising questions about the new manager's defensive priorities ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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