Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NO ALF MEASURES
Morelos hits ground running on return
ALFREDO MORELOS helped himself to four goals as Rangers strolled into Scottish Cup quarter-finals last night.
Andy Halliday also struck as the hosts hammered Kilmarnock to book a last-eight date with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on March 3.
Steven Gerrard’s side hunted down the visitors from kick-off although they were lucky referee Alan Muir took no action against Joe Worrall just two minutes in as the Englishman appeared to block off Eamonn Brophy in the box.
But with Morelos back in action for the first time since his red card at Aberdeen, Gers once again had a focal point back and it took just seven minutes for them to find it.
James Tavernier measured an inch-perfect ball down the right for Daniel Candeias, whose first-time ball was whipped straight to the unmarked Morelos to tap home at the back post.
Daniel Bachmann pulled off a good save from Scott Arfield soon after but that was the Austrian stopper’s last involvement as he saw red on 25 minutes. Glen Kamara hit the deck claiming he had been struck with an elbow as he and Bachmann waited for a corner delivery. Muir took his time as he consulted his assistants before leaving Bachmann stunned as he reached for his top pocket.
Killie boss Steve Clarke sacrificed Conor Mcaleny to put on back-up keeper Jamie Macdonald but there was a further blow as debutant Alex Bruce had to be replaced at the same time after going down injured.
Gerrard’s team sensed their chance to put the tie to bed. First Tavernier rattled the underside of the bar with a 20-yard rocket – but their second again came from point-blank range on the stroke of half-time.
Candeias threw over another sumptuous delivery, this time from deep in the corner, and Morelos had the easiest header.
The action was in danger of dwindling away after the break but the introduction of Halliday sent Gers’ tempo soaring.
The left-back won possession on half-way, sprayed forward to Ryan Kent before racing on to finish emphatically from 15 yards out on 73 minutes.
Morelos then wrapped up his hat-trick five minutes later as he fizzed the ball past Macdonald at his near post. And El Buffalo was not done there, swivelling on the ball before sending a low finish into the bottom corner of the net for number five with seven minut e s left.