South Africa defender Olwethu Makhanya scores late to rescue Rangers from defeat

South African defender Olwethu Makhanya scored his first goal for Rangers in dramatic fashion, netting an 89th-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old centre-back rose highest to meet Badredine Bouanani’s free-kick at Tynecastle, directing a looping header off the post and into the net to rescue a point for the Glasgow giants after they had fallen behind.

Rangers had taken the lead through Kevin Kelsy in the 16th minute, but Hearts responded strongly after the interval to turn the contest around.

Claudio Braga restored parity in the 48th minute before Calvin Miller struck nine minutes later to put the hosts ahead, leaving Rangers facing the prospect of defeat.

However, Makhanya stepped up when his side needed him most, finding the net with just a minute of normal time remaining to deny Hearts all three points.

Rangers almost completed a dramatic turnaround in stoppage time when Dujon Sterling found himself with a close-range opportunity, but Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus produced a save to preserve the draw.

Despite missing out on a late winner, Rangers will take encouragement from their resilience after recovering from a second-half deficit to claim a point away from home.

The result leaves Rangers second in the Scottish Premiership, four points behind leaders Celtic and four points ahead of third-placed Hearts. The Edinburgh club, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten home league run to 26 matches.

For Makhanya, the goal represents a significant personal milestone following his move to Rangers in the summer of 2026. The South African international joined from Philadelphia Union on an initial four-year contract, with the option of an additional season.

Before his move to Major League Soccer in 2023, the defender featured for South African outfit Stellenbosch, where he continued his development before embarking on his career abroad.

His late intervention against Hearts adds another memorable moment to his growing experience in Scottish football and underlines his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.

The Bafana Bafana defender will now hope to build on his maiden Rangers goal as he continues to establish himself at the Glasgow club.