RANGERS are through to the final of this season’s Viaplay Cup after Michael Beale’s men battled from being a goal down to beat Aberdeen at Hampden.
Goals from Bojan Miovski and man of the match Ryan Jack in the 41st and 61st minutes meant that this dramatic semi-final showdown went to extra time, with the Dons down to ten men after captain Anthony Stewart was shown a straight red card for a crazy challenge on Fashion Sakala.
Substitute Kemar Roofe was the hero for the Light Blues as his excellent finish from Scott Wright’s cross on 94 minutes proved decisive and booked the club’s place in the final against Celtic on Sunday, February 26.
After a positive start to the game and with just four minutes on the clock, Rangers came close to opening the scoring through the in-form Sakala.
James Tavernier crossed into the box and the Zambian’s header came back off the post, with Dons goalkeeper Kelle Roos diving to his left and at full stretch.
The Light Blues were fired up from referee Nick Walsh’s first whistle, playing with a speed and intensity which would no doubt have pleased Beale.
Jim Goodwin’s side, however, started to push forward with intent and they had the ball in the net on 15 minutes. Striker Miovski fired high past Allan McGregor from a tight angle but the Macedonian was offside when he received a through pass from Leighton Clarkson.
This had the Dons fans off their seats and just three minutes later the lively Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes was guilty of missing the ball altogether with a right-foot swipe after a corner kick had been nodded down to him six yards from goal.
It was an entertaining start to the tie and next up to try his luck was the industrious Sakala, who twisted and turned in the box but his powerful left-foot effort flew over the crossbar with Roos watching it closely.
On the half-hour mark Morelos had his first opportunity to get a shot away. The referee allowed play to continue after a foul on Kent and when the ball arrived at the Colombian’s feet he failed to find the target from 20 yards.
Despite the poor playing surface, both teams tried to get the ball down and play, with Roos making a fine stop from Ryan Kent as Rangers ramped up the pressure.
The Dutch goalkeeper was again in the right place at the right time to make another excellent goal-line save to deny Morelos, who thought his back-post header from Borna Barisic’s delivery had gone over. Hawk-Eye technology confirmed it hadn’t.
Somewhat against the run of play at this point, Aberdeen scored with four minutes of the first half remaining. Matty Kennedy found space and time on the right flank after getting in behind the Gers defence, and his cross was perfect for Miovski who produced an ice-cool cushioned finish to beat McGregor.
At the start of the second half Rangers, now shooting towards their own fans, had to find a way to get back into the game while ensuring they stayed focus at the back, with the next goal of huge importance.
Six minutes in and a clever flick from Morelos allowed Malik Tillman to drive forward and get into a shooting position. He elected to tee up Jack but his shot went high and wide from 20 yards.
Just after the hour mark Rangers got the goal they deserved and it came at the end of wonderful build-up play.
Kent, on the left wing, fed the ball to Jack who flicked the ball cleverly to Morelos before spinning to receive a return pass from his teammate. From a central position and 18 yards out, the former Aberdeen midfielder shot and the ball deflected off Liam Scales before nestling in the corner of the net.
There was a sense of relief as the Rangers fans celebrated the equaliser and with 72 minutes played Beale made his first substitutions, with Kemar Roofe and Glen Kamara replacing Morelos and Tillman respectively.
With extra time looming, the end to the 90 minutes was understandably nervy with both teams pushing for what surely would be the match-winning goal.
Lundstram played a one-two with Roofe at the edge of the box but his shot went straight at Roos. At the other end, Dons substitute Connor Barron tried to beat McGregor from the tightest of angles but his effort went well wide.
In the second of eight minutes of injury time the game took a late twist, with Anthony Stewart sent off for a shocking challenge on Sakala in front of Hampden’s Main Stand.
It was a moment of madness from the Aberdeen captain and it gave Rangers a lift as they pushed for a second goal.
It wasn’t to be before the final whistle, albeit Ryan Kent came agonisingly close with a long-range drive which had Roos flapping at thin air as it curled wide.
With a numerical advantage, the Light Blues flew out of the traps for the first half of extra time, with James Tavernier clipping the top of the crossbar with a deflected shot three minutes in.
Their second goal arrived 60 second later and it all came from the powerful running of substitute Wright, who had gone on for John Lundstram.
The winger darted down the left wing at full speed and his cut-back cross was perfect for Roofe who slotted home a terrific finish with his left foot.
Aberdeen responded to being a goal down, with Jonny Hayes shooting from fully 30 yards to work McGregor. Rangers then pushed forward again with Scales doing well to block a shot from Sakala which squirmed inches past the post.
Into the second half of extra time and Wright, who looked hungry and determined after going on, struck a sweet right-foot shot which looked to be going in but it hit the stanchion behind the goal.
There was then concern for Beale and his coaching staff as, with just nine minutes remaining, goal hero Roofe went off and appeared to be holding his shoulder.
Charlie McCann took his place but at this point Rangers were in a strong position, and they went on to celebrate a terrific victory from a memorable game that had just about everything.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic (Devine 105), Jack, Lundstram (Wright 90) , Tillman (Kamara 72), Sakala (Arfield 105), Morelos (Roofe 72 (McCann 117)), Kent
SUBS: McLaughlin, King, Lowry
GOALS: Jack 61, Roofe 94
BOOKINGS: Barisic, Goldson
ABERDEEN: Roos, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart, Shinnie (Watkins 117), Miovski (Ramirez 90), Lopes (Hayes 60), Ramadani, Clarkson (Barron 73), Coulson, Kennedy
SUBS: Lewis, Besuijen, Myslovic, Duncan, Richardson
GOALS: Miovski 41
BOOKINGS: McCrorie, Kennedy
SENT OFF: Stewart
REF: Nick Walsh