Rangers summoned up the energy to become extra-time heroes for the second time in four days as they turned Treble busters against rivals Celtic in a Hampden epic.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men should have been out on their feet but showed incredible character to come from behind to book their place in the Scottish Cup Final with a 2-1 win.
Fashion Sakala is a player many have doubted to have the quality needed to make it at Ibrox but the Zambian was the super sub as he grabbed the winner in a sensational game.
Ange Postecoglou's men could have few complaints as they were outplayed against their rivals who were forced to go to the end following their midweek Europa League quarter final win over Braga.
It's Van Bronckhorst's first win over Celtic as a manager after back to back defeats as he looks to win the trophy for the club for the first time since 2009 to end Postecoglou's clean sweep hopes.
Greg Taylor – released by Rangers as a kid – fired Celtic into a second half lead and that looked to have sapped any remaining energy out of the Ibrox side following their extra time midweek exertions.
But Van Bronckhorst’s men somehow managed to find the energy as the fresh legs of substitute Scott Arfield grabbed a leveller and force extra time for Rangers for the second time in four days before Sakala netted.
The atmosphere was electric and Rangers, just as they did in the recent league meeting at Ibrox started quickly, with the first real chance.
John Lundstram made a brilliant challenge to pick Reo Hatate’s pocket and threaded a pass through to Ryan Kent but Callum McGregor got back to make an excellent challenge.
Jota then headed just off target at the other end from Liel Abada’s cross as the game started at a fast tempo.
Kemar Roofe then flashed a shot wide as the game ebbed and flowed with a goal the only thing missing.
Rangers looked the more likely to score and Carl Starfelt had to make amends for initially conceding possession as the Swede headed Roofe’s effort clear before Joe Aribo’s effort from the rebound was straight into Joe Hart’s arms.
Lundstram came closest to breaking the deadlock five minutes before the break with the midfield curling a brilliant left foot effort off the post.
Gers suffered an injury blow after that when Aaron Ramsey limped off with what looked like a hamstring issue as Scott Wright replaced him.
The Light Blues continued to look the better side after the restart but Hatate had a glorious chance to score but pulled his shot wide.
Kent then fired a whisker wide with Hart scrambling low to his left before Postecoglou made a double change with Liel Abada - who pulled up - going off along with the ineffective Tom Rogic as Kyogo and Matt O’Riley were introduced.
That gave the Hoops renewed energy and they soon had that vital breakthrough as they caught Rangers out.
A quick free kick - one Rangers disputed for a foul by Roofe on Cameron Carter-Vickers - was played to McGregor who prodded the ball into Taylor’s path and the full back shot low into the corner with the ball taking a slight deflection off Bassey.
Carver-Vickers should then have added to his recent derby winner as he crashed a shot off the crossbar when the ball broke kindly to the American from a corner.
Gers looked to be flagging at that point but somehow they summoned the energy to get themselves level.
Arfield had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes - a double substitution with Steven Davis also on - and his fresh legs helped get his side back into it.
Goldson played a brilliant long ball to Tavernier and his cross into the box was laid off by Roofe into Arfield’s path and he fired past Hart.
That ensured another 30 minutes of an enthralling semi final as these two slugged it out.
Rangers came agonisingly close to scoring when Tavernier's angled shot came off the post and extra time substitute Sakala's acrobatic effort from the rebound bounced off the crossbar.
But it was the Zambian who found the net with five minutes of the 120 remaining.
Bassey stormed down the left wing and Sakala showed more determination than Starfelt to stab home.
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