WRECK IT ALF AT IT AGAIN IN DONS MAYHEM
Aberdeen 2 Rangers 4
ALFREDO MORELOS saw red against Aberdeen for the third time this season but not before firing the double which helped Rangers to a drama-filled 4-2 win at Pittodrie.
The Colombian gave yet another display of his talents with two clinical finishes.
But he let his temper get the better of him once again after getting embroiled in a confrontation with Scott Mckenna that saw both men dismissed.
James Tavernier tucked home the Gers’ fifth penalty award in two games before a Jermain Defoe strike in stoppage time sealed a precious win that keeps Steven Gerrard’s men six points behind Celtic.
But while Sam Cosgrove also struck twice – one from the spot – the Reds drop five behind their Ibrox rivals.
Morelos landed the night’s opening blow.
Ryan Kent’s shot on the angle was well-struck but Joe Lewis succeeded only in parrying it straight to Morelos who tucked home.
Aberdeen’s response came on the half-hour mark. Tavernier could only head away a Greg Stewart cross but it was fizzed back into the box by Lewis Ferguson. The ball bounced off
Tavernier and Connor Goldson before falling perfectly for Cosgrove to roll home.
Rangers showed they are not ready to let Celtic race off into the distance and regained their lead seven minutes later.
Ryan Jack pushed forward from midfield before finding Kent. The ball was slipped through to Morelos, who produced a sensational finish to find the bottom corner. The first penalty came in the 42nd minute came when Mckenna raised an arm above his head which blocked a Rangers flick-on.
Gers skipper Tavernier stepped up to put
Rangers two in front again.
Their lead was trimmed back three minutes after the restart as Tavernier bundled over Ferguson and Cosgrove rammed the ball past Allan Mcgregor.
The real flashpoint, however, came in the
54th minute as Morelos and Mckenna got their marching orders after kicking out at each other (above).
Aberdeen threw caution to the wind during seven minutes of stoppage time but the game was up when Defoe (inset) fired home his third Rangers goal.