InTheNews.co.uk
Breaking News:
Your source for news

Football Story

 21 August 2008 21:33 BST

Rangers through to Cup final after spot-kick drama

Sunday, 20 Apr 2008 19:50
Spaniard Nacho Novo scored a penalty in extra time and in the shootout
Rangers have reached the Scottish Cup final after beating St Johnstone 4-3 on penalties in a thriller at Hampden Park.

The game ended 1-1 with both sides scoring in extra time, Daniel McBreen's opener for the Saints being cancelled out by Nacho Novo's penalty.

In the shootout Rangers keeper Neil Alexander saved penalties from Steven Milne and Jody Morris, with Daniel Cousin slotting in the winning spot-kick.

Only Cuellar and Christian Dailly retained their places in the Rangers' team that lost to Celtic in midweek, while ex-Chelsea midfielder Morris started for the Saints.

Rangers, who have won the Scottish Cup 31 times, were dealt an early blow when Chris Burke was stretchered off after a crunching tackle from Kevin Rutkiewicz on ten minutes.

The first half was a dreary affair until the 26th minute when Thomas Buffel put the ball into the roof of the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Six minutes later, Nacho Novo should have put Walter Smith's side ahead when sent clear but scuffed his shot wide.

St Johnstone's best chance of the half fell to Hardie, who stepped inside two players and fired in a swerving shot that Neil Alexander held.

The SPL leaders came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock at the start of the second half when Novo's header was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Alan Main.

Derek McInnes' side responded with good chances of their own with Steven Milne heading over the bar and substitute Paul Sheerin arrowing a shot across goal.

Rangers, who have four games in ten days starting on Thursday, were desperate to avoid extra time and came agonisingly close when Steve Davis' header was cleared off the line by Liam Craig.

But the First Division side held on in a nervy final few minutes to force extra time. Just three minutes in, the Saints broke the deadlock when Sheerin's cross was headed in by McBreen.

Minutes later, Steven Anderson wasted a glorious chance to seal the game but directed his header wide.

Rangers punished that miss when they were awarded a penalty in the 103rd minute when Daniel Cousin was pushed from behind by Rutkiewicz, with Novo stepping up and blasting his spot-kick into the corner to make it 1-1.

In a pulsating final few minutes, Milne blazed over when sent clear for St Johnstone while Novo's shot on the turn was touched onto the post.

In the resulting shootout with the score at 3-3, Alexander turned away Morris' spot-kick and Cousin slotted in the winning penalty to send the Gers through to the final. End of story


More football news... 

Also In The News 

© 2008 Advertise | Privacy | Terms of Use