Ally McCoist completed another remarkable chapter in his incredible career by steering Rangers into the final of the Tennents Scottish Cup today at Parkhead.

The 35-year-old striker made the breakthrough after 75 minutes with his sixth goal in seven games.

Jorg Albertz added a marvellous second goal two minutes from time to set up a final showdown with Hearts on May 16.

Craig Burley pulled a consolation goal back for Celtic in injury time, but it was too little too late.

McCoist did not feature the last time the sides met on January 2. He was so far out of the picture at Ibrox it seemed his days were numbered.

But injury to Gordon Durie and Marco Negri's slump in form gave him his chance again.

McCoist was named Player of the Month for March and he has started April with a bang.

He scored in the 3-0 victory over Hibernian last week and followed it up with today's priceless strike.

Scotland manager Craig Brown, who knows his side needs a natural goalscorer, is continuing to monitor McCoist's progress.

If he carries on scoring at this rate he could still book a place to France for the World Cup finals this summer.

But another Ibrox stalwart kept Celtic at bay in the first half. Andy Goram has made many outstanding saves over the years against Rangers' Old Firm rivals and today was no exception as Celtic dominated the first half.

Rangers manager Walter Smith left Negri and Durie on the bench, while ankle injury-victims Stephane Mahe and Jackie McNamara were both missing for Celtic.

Lorenzo Amoruso made his debut for Rangers, coming on in the 20th minute for Gordan Petric, who had taken a knock earlier in the match.

Amoruso, £3.75million signing from Fiorentina, has been hampered by injuries, mainly a nagging ankle problem.

Goram was first tested in the fourth minute when he beat away a close-range shot from Simon Donnelly, who had been released by Henrik Larsson.

Then Tommy Boyd played the ball to Larsson only for Goram to block the Swedish striker's path.

But the Scotland goalkeeper left his best save to the last minute of the half with a marvellous double block.

He beat away a shot from Phil O'Donnell then somehow got a hand to the rebound from Donnelly.

Celtic could hardly believe it as they went in at the break still level, although Rangers could have taken the lead in the third minute.

Albertz got away down the left and his cross was knocked nervously away by Marc Rieper with goalkeeper Jonathan Gould already in mid-flight.

Rangers struggled to get their game together, although Rino Gattuso saw a shot drift wide after he had evaded Paul Lambert's challenge.

Celtic again took the match to Rangers at the start of the second half but Alan Stubbs could only power a header wide following a precise cross from Donnelly.

Rangers started to step up the pressure and Jonas Thern released Laudrup with a neat through-ball that sliced open the Celtic defence.

The Dane's shot was accurate enough but Gould stood up and beat the ball away.

However, Rangers made the breakthrough after 75 minutes and silenced the Celtic supporters on their home patch.

Thern delivered a marvellous crossfield pass to Albertz, who took the ball on and his cross found McCoist lurking with intent at the far post. He dived to head the ball home before going on a personal lap of honour to the delight of the Rangers fans.

Gould then beat away a shot from Laudrup before Albertz grabbed the second goal when carving a path through the Celtic defence before rifling a shot into the top corner of the net.

Celtic grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time when Craig Burley slotted the ball home after being released by Donnelly, but it was too little too late.

McCoist and Goram had helped secure Rangers' passage to the final and a repeat of the 1996 meeting with Hearts.

Rangers won 5-1 that day to complete a league and cup double. Today's victory keeps them on course for a similar achievement.

The Scottish Football Association later confirmed that the final would be played at Celtic Park on May 16.

Teams/b>

Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Albertz, Gough, Petric (Amoruso 19), Bjorklund, Thern, McCoist (Durie 89), Gattuso, McCall, Laudrup.

Subs Not Used: Negri.

Booked: McCall, Cleland.

Goals: McCoist 75, Albertz 88.

Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Annoni, Donnelly, Rieper, Stubbs (Hannah 72), Larsson, Burley, Brattbakk (Jackson 71), Lambert, O'Donnell.

Subs Not Used: Blinker.

Goals: Burley 90.

Att: 48,000

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton)