RANGERS will take on their Glasgow rivals Celtic in the final of the Viaplay Cup at Hampden next month after coming from behind to beat Aberdeen after extra-time in a thrilling semi-final at Hampden this afternoon.
Michael Beale’s side dominated Jim Goodwin’s team in the first-half – but they allowed Bojan Miovski to net four minutes before half-time when they switched off at the back.
The Ibrox club restored parity in the second-half after Ryan Jack played a one-two with Alfredo Morelos and fired a deflected shot into the bottom right corner.
Pittodrie captain Ant Stewart was shown a straight red card by referee Nick Walsh for a shocking foul on Fashion Sakala to put his side at a huge disadvantage.
And Rangers capitalised on their numerical superiority in the first period of extra-time when substitute Kemar Roofe turned a Scott Wright cut back beyond Kelle Roos.
Here are five talking points from events in Mount Florida this afternoon.
RAISE THE ROOFE
If ever a player deserved to score a winner in a cup semi-final it was Kemar Roofe. The Jamaican internationalist has had a horrendous time with injuries this season. He had made just three appearances as a late substitute before today.
However, he certainly made his presence felt after replacing Morelos with 16 minutes of regulation time remaining. He turned a Wright pass into the Aberdeen net with the deftest of touches. It was his first goal since his extra-time winner in the Europa League quarter-final against Braga back in April and was a sweet moment for him.
Beale is a huge admirer of the former Leeds United and Anderlecht man, who was Rangers’ leading scorer when they won the Scottish title back in 2021, and was desperately disappointed when the 30-year-old had to come off after a heavy fall.
The match winner left the field clutching his left arm and looks set to spend another lengthy spell on the sidelines. It was a day of mixed emotions for him.
DOUGHTY DONS
Sakala hit the post with a header and fired just over, Morelos shot wide and forced a save from Roos and Ryan Kent also tested the goalkeeper. But Rangers lacked a spark in the final third for all their pressure and were made to pay for their profligacy up front when Aberdeen nosed in front.
Even the equaliser that Jack netted in the second-half took a wicked deflection off of Scales. When Roofe struck what proved to be the winner it was their first moment of real quality in attack. They need to show far more of a cutting edge going forward.
Nothing, though, should be taken away from Aberdeen. They defended superbly from kick-off to the final whistle. And they by no means “parked the bus”. Allan McGregor pulled off a few fine saves too. How would they have fared if they had kept 11 men on the park for the duration of the encounter?
Scales felt that he had been punched in the head by Kent shortly after Stewart had seen red in injury-time and replays of the incident backed up his claim. VAR broke down for five minutes in extra-time. But at that stage in proceedings it was working. So why was no action taken by Alan Muir?
DIRE DEFENDING
The softness of the goals that Rangers have conceded since he returned to Ibrox in November has concerned Beale. But whatever he is saying to his charges on the training ground at Auchenhowie is clearly not getting through. They will not enjoy watching the opener back.
Both Borna Barisic and Ben Davies switched off when Leighton Clarkson played a through ball to Miovski because they realised the Macedonian was offside. But Matty Kennedy hared through and pinched the ball from under their noses. He squared to his team mate who showed great composure to volley beyond McGregor.
It was the 23-year-old’s 13th goal of the 2022/23 campaign and he deserved it for having the good sense not to touch the ball. He has been £500,000 very well spent so far. That said, his strike owed more to poor play than his ability or intelligence. Beale has work to do.
STUPID STEWART
Stewart had irked his manager in the build up to the final when he stated that he felt Antonio Colak was a better striker than Morelos.
And no wonder. Talk about giving your opponent an extra incentive to perform at his very best! Would the combustible Columbian, who started up front in the continued absence of his injured club mate, ram the Englishman’s ill-advised words down his throat?
Morelos had a little nibble at the defender when he was beaten to a ball in the Pittodrie club’s box in the first-half. He stamped on Stewart’s heel a little after the ball had been cleared to safety. But match official Walsh was unconcerned.
The forward had an opportunity to break the deadlock on the half hour mark after the Dons skipper had cleaned out Kent. But his attempt was weak and off target. Roos then kept his header out after he got on the end of a Barisic cross.
But Rangers’ all-time record European goalscorer, who has struggled to find both form and fitness since returning from a long-term injury lay-off, made his mark when he teed up Jack for the equaliser. Colak couldn’t have done any better.
Stewart led Aberdeen by example today. He was outstanding in the air, read the game well and made several timely blocks. However, he let himself, his team, his manager and his supporters down when he scythed down Sakala needlessly in the third minute injury-time.
He protested his innocence after the match official had ordered him off and took some time to leave the field. But he could have no complaints whatsoever. Being reduced to 10 men at that stage in proceedings ultimately proved costly for his side.
LIFE’S A PITCH
The monsoon-like conditions the first semi-final between Celtic and Kilmarnock was played in on Saturday evening did the playing surface at Hampden no favours whatsoever.
Ange Postecoglou, the winning manager, was far from happy and neither set of players today would have been overly impressed when they saw the condition of the park.
It was not exactly ideal for such a high-profile encounter. But it is harsh to criticise the groundsmen. There is only so much they can do if there is rain of biblical proportions.
Still, it is to be hoped there is a distinct improvement when the final is played next month.
