Kemar Roofe’s dramatic extra-time strike gave Rangers a 2-1 win over 10-man Aberdeen at Hampden Park and arrange an Old Firm Scottish League Cup last subsequent month.
In a compelling semi-final on a gluepot pitch, Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski took benefit of hesitancy within the Gers defence 4 minutes from the break to present the Granite City males the lead.
Former Dons midfielder Ryan Jack drove in a deflected leveller within the 61st minute earlier than Pittodrie skipper Anthony Stewart was handed a straight pink card by referee Nick Walsh in added time for a surprising sort out on Fashion Sakala.
Substitute Roofe put Rangers forward from shut vary 4 minutes into extra-time and there was extra drama when VAR failed for a couple of minutes earlier than sparking again into life.
An exhausting tie ended with a ragged Rangers facet within the last and they’re going to tackle Celtic at Hampden Park on February 26, with one other action-packed afternoon probably.
How Rangers arrange Celtic date with future
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Roofe scores the essential extra-time purpose
Lots of focus pre-match was on the Hampden pitch, which had been criticised by each Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and Killie supervisor Derek McInnes following Saturday’s last-four conflict. Although the climate was higher, the floor minimize up from the kick-off, doing neither facet any favours.
Aberdeen have been unchanged however veteran Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor took over from Jon McLaughlin and striker Alfredo Morelos changed the injured Antonio Colak.
Rangers threatened first within the fourth minute with attacker Sakala, whose header from a James Tavernier cross beat Dons ‘keeper Kelle Roos however smacked the put up.
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Bojan Miovski had a purpose disallowed previous to scoring
The Dons defence needed to keep agency however slowly they started to edge ahead with growing confidence.
In the fifteenth minute Miovski broke away from the Gers defence to latch on to a Leighton Clarkson cross and drove excessive previous McGregor from an acute angle. However, the offside flag went up and VAR confirmed the choice.
At the opposite finish, Sakala lashed a shot from the sting of the field over the bar, earlier than Morelos fired simply previous the far put up.
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Miovski scores to make it 1-0
Roos then parried a long-distance effort from Ryan Kent earlier than Sakala slashed the unfastened ball vast after which the Aberdeen ‘keeper made an excellent save from Morelos’ close-range header.
However, when the Rangers defence momentarily went to sleep the Dons took the lead.
Clarkson’s cross cut up the backline and Miovski appeared offside however Matty Kennedy saved going previous left-back Borna Barasic to take possession. When he crossed into the center, the unmarked North Macedonia worldwide had raced in to cushion the ball previous McGregor, gorgeous Rangers and their followers.
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Miovski celebrates scoring
Just as Gers boss Michael Beale was about to make modifications, his crew levelled.
Jack performed a one-two with Morelos on the fringe of the field and his right-footed shot got here off on-loan Celtic defender Liam Scales and wrong-footed Roos. The aid among the many Light Blue assist was palpable.
The pleasure continued. Clarkson cracked the woodwork with a shot – however Kennedy was offside – earlier than Roofe and Glen Kamara got here on for Morelos and Malik Tillman, with Aberdeen’s Connor Barron on for Clarkson, Jonny Hayes having already changed Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes.
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Rangers’ Ryan Jack celebrates making it 1-1
The sport had swung in the direction of Rangers however they might not take benefit.
Two minutes into added time Stewart was despatched packing for a ridiculous lunge on Sakala in the direction of the touchline, whereas Kent bought away with what gave the impression to be an off-the-ball swing at Scales.
Tavernier clipped the bar with a deflected strike two minutes into extra-time nevertheless it was not too lengthy earlier than the vigorous Roofe transformed a cutback from fellow substitute Scott Wright from six yards.
There have been close to misses at each ends because the Dons saved battling – McGregor made late saves from Scales and Hayden Coulson – and it was Rangers who have been glad to listen to the ultimate whistle.
What occurred to VAR?
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Rangers’ Malik Tillman and Duk in motion on Sunday
Scottish soccer’s recently-introduced VAR know-how briefly failed throughout this sport.
Referee Nick Walsh appeared to have bother with the communication tools on his arm firstly of extra-time and there was a delay to the extra half-hour getting below approach.
Walsh went off the sphere after Roofe put Rangers 2-1 forward early in additional time and gave the impression to be checking the purpose may stand.
After one other delay, the sport restarted and supporters at Hampden have been quickly advised over the general public tackle system that there could be no VAR for the remainder of the sport.
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Rangers struggled to get going within the first half
However, about 4 minutes later the followers have been advised that the video help know-how was again working.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Professional Football League mentioned: “The Scottish FA have confirmed to us {that a} technical concern with the VAR station at Clydesdale House resulted in a five-minute interval the place VAR was not in operation at Hampden Park.
“The concern was resolved by shifting to the back-up station and VAR was operational instantly thereafter.”
VAR was launched in Scotland’s prime flight in mid-October.
What’s subsequent?
Rangers return to Scottish Premiership motion on Wednesday at Kilmarnock, dwell on Sky Sports. Kick-off 8pm.
Aberdeen journey to Hearts on the identical night time. That match kicks off at 7.45pm.
Wednesday 18th January 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
