Rangers progress and Celtic earn replay in Scottish Cup
Sunday, 09 Mar 2008 18:14
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's last-minute strike rescued Celtic's Scottish Cup hopes
Rangers are through to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals after a 1-0 victory over Hibernian, while Celtic have forced a replay against Aberdeen.
A Chris Burke strike on 39 minutes was enough for the SPL leaders to overcome Hibs at Ibrox.
Celtic, already in the quarter-finals, will take the Dons back to Celtic Park thanks to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's last-minute strike.
Rangers, who will play Partick Thistle in their last-eight tie, went ahead when on-loan
Fulham midfielder Steven Davis passed to Burke, who cut in on the left to fire a low show past Yves Ma-Kalambay.
Lee McCulloch and Barry Ferguson both had strikes cleared off the line in the first-half, while Steven Naismith hit the crossbar and Hibs' Steven Fletcher continued to test Ibrox debutant Neil Alexander.
The game's flashpoint came with 11 minutes left of normal time when Spanish striker Nacho Novo lunged at Thierry Gathuessi.
Novo, who had only been on the field for ten minutes, was shown a straight red, which saw his manager Walter Smith sent to the stands after he clashed with Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen.
At Pittodrie, the hosts took the lead with 12 minutes left on the clock when Jeffrey de Visscher fired under Artur Boruc.
Gordon Strachan's team got their deserved equaliser with seconds remaining when Vennegoor of Hesselink struck past Derek Soutar.
Both teams had goals chalked off for offside in the opening 45, while the Bhoys hit the woodwork through Scott McDonald and Paul Hartley.