GERS MADE OF STUFF
Ibrox side defy pain in Spain to go the distance once again
Hearts
(After extra time)
THE pain of their defeat in Seville on Wednesday night will linger for some time to come for Rangers. Losing a European final on penalties is not the sort of disappointment you recover from in a matter of days.
Yet, this sweet Scottish Cup final victory ensured the Ibrox club finished what has been, even by their standards, a tumultuous season on a huge high and went an awfully long way towards lifting morale down Govan way.
When the encounter with Hearts at Hampden yesterday went to extra-time, followers of the Glasgow giants could have been forgiven for fearing the worst. It was the last thing they needed following their exertions in the searing heat in Andalusia in midweek.
Yet, James Tavernier and his team-mates showed great reserves of energy and no shortage of mental strength to secure the trophy. Goals from substitutes Ryan Jack and Scott Wright ultimately sewed up what was a hard-fought but richly deserved triumph.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team had been denied a stonewall penalty in injurytime at the end of the second half when Nathan Atkinson tugged the shirt of Joe Aribo in his area just as the playmaker was poised to shoot. So justice was probably done.
Failing to retain the cinch Premiership title this season and being beaten in the Europa League final by Eintracht Frankfurt had both been devastating experiences for Rangers. However, winning the national cup competition for the first time since way back in 2009 in their 150th anniversary year was good reason to celebrate.
It was the first major success Rangers have recorded under Van Bronckhorst. Steven Davis, Connor Goldson and Allan McGregor might all depart in the coming weeks but they have much to look forward to going with the tactically astute and unflappable Dutchman in charge.
Hearts competed bravely and contained their top-flight rivals for 90 minutes. But they could have no complaints about the final outcome. They offered very little going forward and failed to seriously test Jon
McLaughlin and then Allan McGregor.
Van Bronckhorst, as expected, freshened up his starting line-up. Out went the injured Borna Barisic along with Jack, Glen Kamara and Wright and Leon Balogun, Davis, Scott Arfield and Amad Diallo came in. Elsewhere, Mclaughlin was preferred to McGregor in goals as he had been in the four previous rounds.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson named centre-backs Craig Halkett and John
Souttar in his side. It was the first time Halkett had started since he was stretchered off in the semi-final win over Hibernian last month. Souttar, meanwhile, had not been involved from kick-off since early March.
Hearts nearly forged in front in the 10th minute following a slick interchange between Atkinson, Liam Boyce and Ellis Simms. But the latter was unable to get enough power behind his shot and struck the outside of the left post.
Diallo showed his undoubted ability in the 15th minute when he brought down a long Goldson ball upfield with the outside of his left foot and cut inside Alex Cochrane. His pass was cleared to safety. But his moment of magic highlighted why his manager had given him the nod.
Hearts repelled Rangers well thereafter. Arfield got an attempt on target in the 26th minute after Diallo and Davis had combined well to tee him up. But Craig Gordon had little difficulty dealing with it.
The same could not be said for the wild passback Halkett played to his keeper shortly after that. The centre-half very nearly lobbed his keeper and put the ball into his own net. The Scotland internationalist did well to nod it down and spare his team-mate’s blushes.
Joe Aribo and Diallo both got their heads on the end of crosses from Bassey, who took over from Barisic at leftback and acquitted himself superbly, towards the end of the first half. But both men missed the target.
Both sets of players looked like they were jaded at the end of a long hard season at times. There was no shortage of endeavour, but the play was often scrappy. Passes were misplaced and poor decisions made. But the Diallo diagonal ball that put Kent in behind Atkinson in the 58th minute was sublime. If Gordon hadn’t been so quick to get off his line and close the winger down then Hearts would have fallen behind.
Diallo was yellow-carded by Collum for a foul on Boyce and took great exception to having his name taken. Van Bronckhorst was correct to replace the teenager with Wright soon after.
Bassey has become a hero to the Rangers fans this term due to his mature performances for them at the back. The 6ft 1in defender showed he is every bit as good going forward yesterday. Kent and Barrie McKay would have been proud of the trickery he exhibited on the ball out wide. He gave Atkinson a torrid afternoon.
He weaved through the Hearts defence and tested Gordon with 15 minutes remaining. The Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year did brilliantly to get down quickly and palm it away.
Gordon produced the save of the match when he diverted an Aribo shot past his post with his outstretched left foot. But the Rangers forward had been pulled from behind by Atkinson before the shot. It was a clear penalty.
Aribo missed an absolute sitter in the second minute of extra-time after Bassey had supplied him a few yards in front of goal. But there was nothing wrong with Jack’s finish a minute later. The midfielder brought down a Halkett header at a Tavernier corner and then rifled beyond Gordon and into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Just three minutes later, Wright showed exactly the same sort of composure when Kent played him through. He slotted into the bottom left corner of the net to send one half of the stadium into raptures.
Van Bronckhorst put on McGregor at the behest of McLaughlin at the very end. The 40-year-old may or may not be involved in any more of these occasions.
But there promises to be a few more for Rangers in the seasons ahead.