Rangers defeated arch-rivals Celtic in the CIS Cup Final courtesy of an extra-time winner from Nikica Jelavic.
Steven Davis opened the scoring for Rangers with a strike from outside the area, before Joe Ledley produced a first half equalizer for Celtic.
Old Firm games this season have not been short of controversy, and the first potential flashpoint came 15 minutes into this Cup Final. Celtic midfielder Mark Wilson drove into the box and went to ground under pressure from Sasa Papac and Davis, no penalty was awarded.
Celtic continued their good start and almost went in front in the 21st minute when Kris Commons swung over a cross and Scott Brown headed wide of the post.
Celtic were made to pay for Brown’s miss three minutes later when Rangers took the lead. Charlie Mulgrew’s defensive header only went as far as Davis, and the Northern Ireland international dribbled forward before firing a long range drive in off the goal post.
Celtic equalized seven minutes later when Emilio Izaguirre’s cross was redirected and Joe Ledley arrived to head past Neil Alexander to level the scores.
Rangers responded quickly and appealed for a penalty when Jelavic went down under pressure from Thomas Rogne. However the appeal was turned down and the Croatian striker was booked for simulation.
Rangers started the second half strongly and Steven Whittaker forced Fraser Forster into a sharp save from distance. The game was turning into an entertaining affair and Celtic quickly responded at the other end, Commons again produced a good cross and Papac sliced a clearance that was inches away from ending up in his own net.
Gregg Wylde almost fooled Forster with a looping free kick, and Ledley had a chance from a corner but placed his shot too close to Alexander.
The game reached the 90-minute mark with the scores locked at 1-1, and the CIS Cup Final went into extra-time.
Vladimir Weiss was introduced as a late substitute during regulation, and the Slovakian winger made an early substitute during the extra period. Weiss was fouled on the edge of the area, and Jelavic’s free kick deflected off the wall and forced a good reaction save from Forster.
Rangers produced the decisive goal in the 98th minute thanks to a piece of quick thinking. Weiss took a quick free kick and Jelavic held off Mulgrew before firing in off the post to spark wild celebrations in the Blue half of Glasgow.
Jelavic went at Mulgrew again soon after and was fouled on the edge of the area, the Celtic defender was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card.
The temperature was rising and Foster saved from Weiss before El-Hadji Diouf was introduced from the bench and quickly booked. Celtic then had a late chance to equalize but Whittaker produced an excellent sliding tackle to deny Gary Hooper.
Celtic were reduced to 10 men in the final minute when Izaguirre clumsily fouled Weiss to foil a Rangers counter-attack.
When the full-time whistle blew, the iconic Walter Smith was assured of his 20th trophy as Rangers manager. With the Scottish Premier League title race will open, Smith will be hoping it is not his last before he retires in May.
SCORING SUMMARY
RAN – Steven Davis (unassisted) 24’
CEL – Joe Ledley (Emilio Izaguirre) 31’
RAN – Nikica Jelavic (Vladimir Weiss) 98’
LINEUPS
CEL – Forster, Izaguirre, Wilson, Mulgrew, Rogne (Loovens 73), Brown (Ki Sung-Yeung 65), Ledley, Baram Kayal, Samaras, Commons (McCourt 103), Hooper.
RAN – Alexander, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra (Hutton 82), Wylde, Edu, Davis, Lafferty (Weiss 90+3), Naismith, Jelavic (Diouf 117).
Attendance: 51,181
Old Firm games this season have not been short of controversy, and the first potential flashpoint came 15 minutes into this Cup Final. Celtic midfielder Mark Wilson drove into the box and went to ground under pressure from Sasa Papac and Davis, no penalty was awarded.
Celtic continued their good start and almost went in front in the 21st minute when Kris Commons swung over a cross and Scott Brown headed wide of the post.
Celtic were made to pay for Brown’s miss three minutes later when Rangers took the lead. Charlie Mulgrew’s defensive header only went as far as Davis, and the Northern Ireland international dribbled forward before firing a long range drive in off the goal post.
Celtic equalized seven minutes later when Emilio Izaguirre’s cross was redirected and Joe Ledley arrived to head past Neil Alexander to level the scores.
Rangers responded quickly and appealed for a penalty when Jelavic went down under pressure from Thomas Rogne. However the appeal was turned down and the Croatian striker was booked for simulation.
Rangers started the second half strongly and Steven Whittaker forced Fraser Forster into a sharp save from distance. The game was turning into an entertaining affair and Celtic quickly responded at the other end, Commons again produced a good cross and Papac sliced a clearance that was inches away from ending up in his own net.
Gregg Wylde almost fooled Forster with a looping free kick, and Ledley had a chance from a corner but placed his shot too close to Alexander.
The game reached the 90-minute mark with the scores locked at 1-1, and the CIS Cup Final went into extra-time.
Vladimir Weiss was introduced as a late substitute during regulation, and the Slovakian winger made an early substitute during the extra period. Weiss was fouled on the edge of the area, and Jelavic’s free kick deflected off the wall and forced a good reaction save from Forster.
Rangers produced the decisive goal in the 98th minute thanks to a piece of quick thinking. Weiss took a quick free kick and Jelavic held off Mulgrew before firing in off the post to spark wild celebrations in the Blue half of Glasgow.
Jelavic went at Mulgrew again soon after and was fouled on the edge of the area, the Celtic defender was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card.
The temperature was rising and Foster saved from Weiss before El-Hadji Diouf was introduced from the bench and quickly booked. Celtic then had a late chance to equalize but Whittaker produced an excellent sliding tackle to deny Gary Hooper.
Celtic were reduced to 10 men in the final minute when Izaguirre clumsily fouled Weiss to foil a Rangers counter-attack.
When the full-time whistle blew, the iconic Walter Smith was assured of his 20th trophy as Rangers manager. With the Scottish Premier League title race will open, Smith will be hoping it is not his last before he retires in May.
SCORING SUMMARY
RAN – Steven Davis (unassisted) 24’
CEL – Joe Ledley (Emilio Izaguirre) 31’
RAN – Nikica Jelavic (Vladimir Weiss) 98’
LINEUPS
CEL – Forster, Izaguirre, Wilson, Mulgrew, Rogne (Loovens 73), Brown (Ki Sung-Yeung 65), Ledley, Baram Kayal, Samaras, Commons (McCourt 103), Hooper.
RAN – Alexander, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra (Hutton 82), Wylde, Edu, Davis, Lafferty (Weiss 90+3), Naismith, Jelavic (Diouf 117).
Attendance: 51,181
