Returning Raskin Stars for Rangers in Welcome League Cup Victory over Hibs
Rangers 2-0 Hibernian Raskin (42′) Miovski (45+2′) Two late first-half goals saw Rangers progress to the League Cup semi-finals over David Gray’s Hibernian. The home side started positively in front of a sparse Ibrox crowd. Nicolas Raskin returned to the Rangers side following a brief absence and dragged the first shot of the match wide after 5 minutes. Following a pre-match protest outside Ibrox, a section of the home faithful continued their revolt in the 11th minute, throwing objects onto the park to disrupt proceedings. Hibs grew into the game and had the first major chance on the 15-minute mark. Josh Mulligan drove at the Rangers’ backline before sliding Kieron Bowie through on goal. The striker rounded Jack Butland at an angle, opting to lay off for Martin Boyle, who sidefooted over. Boyle had the ball in the net on 19 minutes, rolling past Butland from Dylan Levitt’s pass. VAR correctly disallowed the opener, as the Australian attacker had controlled the pass with his hand. Nicky Cadden crashed a free kick into the wall after the half-hour mark as the game remained goalless. Rangers had shown positive signs but still lacked a cutting edge in attack. That changed after 41 minutes, courtesy of Raskin. The Belgian international headed home James Tavernier’s corner kick to the delight of the home support. Boyle had a golden chance to equalise moments later, but steered a trademark Cadden cross wide. Bojan Miovski doubled the lead in stoppage time. The ball broke to the Macedonian after positive play by Mikey Moore, slotting home for his first Rangers goal. Martin’s side started the second half exactly how they ended the first, as Djeidi Gassama curled a powerful strike off the crossbar. Grant Hanley cleared Miovski’s shot off the line soon after, as Rangers searched for the goal that would finalise the tie. Despite the lead, Rangers looked fragile defensively. Kieron Bowie easily found room in the penalty box from a long ball, but bobbled his shot wide. Miovski thought he had scored his second goal and Rangers’ third, but was flagged offside in the Hibs box. David Gray turned to his bench in an attempt to overturn the deficit. Substitute Thibault Klidje found Bowie in the box, but Dean Cornelius blocked the striker’s left-footed shot. Raskin was a standout for Rangers, adding personality and swagger to the home side’s midfield. He exited the field to a standing ovation after a starring performance. Youssef Chermiti raced clear in the 88th minute as Hibs pushed men forward. The striker’s shot was blocked by the foot of Raphael Salliinger. The full-time whistle secured Rangers’ first win in five, the win will ease some of the magnified pressure on Martin’s shoulders. They return to Ibrox on Thursday, opening their Europa League campaign against Genk. David Gray will be disappointed that his side couldn’t convert any of their major chances. They will have the opportunity to rectify this defeat at Falkirk Stadium on Tuesday night Rangers: Butland 6 Tavernier 7 Souttar 6 Cornelius 6 Meghoma 6 Raskin 7 Diomande 6 Aasgaard 6 Moore 7 Miovski 7 Gassama 6 Substitutes: Barron 6 Antman 5 Chermiti 5 Curtis Bajrami Hibernian:Sallinger 6 Hanley 7 Bushiri 6 Obita 6 Mulligan 6 Levitt 6 Chaiwa 6 N Cadden 6 McGrath 6 Boyle 6 Bowie 6 Substitutes: Barlaser 6 Hoilett 6 Klidje 5 C Cadden 5 Molotnikov 5
Second Half Screamer Secures League Cup Semi for Motherwell
Aberdeen 0-1 Motherwell Charles-Cook (63′) Motherwell joined St Mirren in the League Cup semi-final, beating Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and piling more pressure on Jimmy Thelin. Regan Charles-Cook’s first goal for Jens Berthel Askou’s side proved to be the difference-maker, his arrowing strike found the top corner to secure the win in the second half. Tawanda Maswinhise was involved in the build-up and went close to scoring earlier in the game when he hit the post. Despite some promising attacks, Aberdeen’s goal drought continued. The Dons’ best chances came from Nicky Devlin and Mats Knoester, both of whom struck efforts off the woodwork in a frustrating afternoon for the home side. The crucial victory was a relief for Motherwell after a string of five straight league draws, validating Askou’s entertaining philosophy at Fir Park. Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Knoester, Dorrington, Gyamfi, Shinnie, Armstrong, Karlsson, Aouchiche, Keskinen, Nisbet. Motherwell: Ward, O’Donnell, Gordon, Welsh, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Said, Charles-Cook, Maswanhise, Stamatelopoulos
Saints Seal Shootout Glory to Dump Killie and Book Hampden Spot
Kilmarnock 2-2 St Mirren (3-5 On Penalties ) Deas (44) Anderson (Penalty 86) Mandron (25) Richardson (59) Penalty Scored: Anderson, Watkins, Thompson King, Idowu, Donnelly, Nlundulu, Dijksteel Penalty Missed : Magennis St Mirren repliacted their penalty heroics of the last round as they beat Kilmarnock 5-3 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw to book a spot at Hampden for the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final Stuart Kettlewell made one change to his starting eleven from last weekends gut wrenching final minute defeat to Celtic as former St Mirren midfielder Greg Kiltie came into midfield in place of Rory McKenzie. Former St Mirren captain Kyle Magennis made his return from injury settling for a place on the bench. Stephen Robinson made an enforced change as Richard King who came off the bench in St Mirren’s victory away to Falkirk replaced the injured Marcus Fraser. Liam Donnelly who switched Ayrshire for Paisley in, the summer made the bench on his return from injury. Jonah Ayunga looked to give St Mirren the early advantage 90 seconds in sending an effort into the side netting after a ball into the box from Killian Phillips. Right up the over end Greg Kiltie sent an effort into the hands of Shamal George as he looked to haunt his previous club. The frantic start to the game continued, Mandon sent a long-range effort close as a block sent it just past the post Just after the ten-minute mark impressive play down the right flank from Jayden Richardson who whipped a ball onto the end of Mikael Mandron who could only see his headed effort drift wide. Greg Kiltie came close to giving the home side the lead moments later, however his effort was just wide of the target as the game was back and forth with both teams trying to get the upper hand. Just after the twenty-minute mark Kilmarnock captain Robbie Deas sent a dominic thompsom deelivery wide after a foul from Jayden Richardson which landed the right-back into the book. Mikael Mandron sent the away fans into raptures just before the twenty-five-minute mark after he took down a long ball from Jayden Richardson flicking the ball over the head of Mayo before composing himself to slam the ball past the helpless Max Stryjek in the Kilmarnock goal. Kilmarnock looked to respond to going behind with Marcus Dackers holding the ball up well making himself a handful for the St Mirren defence , However a couple of crosses into the box were plucked out the air by Shamal George The first half looked to be petering out with a succession of St Mirren fouls before a Dominic Thompson free kick met the head of captain Robbie Deas who bulleted his headed effort past Shamal George who could only stand there as Kilmarnock drew level. The first chance of the second half came for the visitors in the fifty second minute after good play down the left-hand side the ball was played into Phillips whose effort was superbly tipped onto the croosbar by Max Stryjek. After limited chances in the second half the Buddies retook the lead just before the hour in spectacular fashion. A long throw from Keanu Baccus whose delivery was twice headed out before landing to Jayden Richardson outside the box who sent a volley firing towards the top corner. Straight from kick off buoyed by retaking the lead St Mirren came forward Jonah Ayunga seeing an effort tipped wide by Stryjek. Bruce Anderson looked to restore parity, but his effort was shepherded by Miguel Freckleton who deflected it wide for a corner. With twenty-five minutes left on the clock a Dominic Thompson free kick was deflected out for a corner, The home side appealed for a penalty which fell on deaf ears as David Dickinson stuck to his guns and with no VAR in operation there was no chance for a review. The game descended into a frantic pace as the game entered the final fifteen minutes with the game going from end to end to no avail for either side. St Mirren nearly had a third as Jonah Ayunga fired an effort into the grateful hands of Max Stryjek With five minutes left Kilmarock were awarded a penalty as Richard King brought down Marley Watkins. Bruce Anderson dispatched his penalty to perfection as he sent Shamal George the wrong way to pull Killie back level. Four minutes added on at the end of the ninety, however neither team could find the decisive breakthrough and into extra time the game headed. Despite Kilmarnock starting extra time the better side the first chance fell to the away side as Dijksteel and John linked up down the left-hand side with the latter firing an effort over the bar The rest of the first half of extra time passed without incident with neither team creating any chances with the ball largely being passed around as legs began to tired. The second half of extra time came and went as neither team threatened with the only thing happening was injuries to David Watson and Marcus Dackers as the game petered out to a shootout. Anderson, Watkins and Thompson all disptched their penalties for Kilmarnock, With King, Idowu, Donnelly, Nlundulu, Dijksteel all scoring for St Mirren. Shamal George as he did against Hearts in the previous round made himself the hero as he saved from former St Mirren captain Kyle Magennis to send the Buddies to Hampden sparking a pitch invasion from the Saints faithful. Kilmarnock: Stryjek 7 Brown 6 Mayo 6 Stanger 6 Deas 7 Thompson 8 Polworth Kiltie 7 Watson 7 Daniels 6 Dackers 6 Substitutes: Anderson 7 Watkins 7 Brannan 5 Magennis 5 Williams 5 St Mirren: George 7 Richardson 7 King 6 Gogic 6 Freckleton 6 John 7 Baccus 6 O’Hara 6 Phillips 7 Ayunga 6 Mandron 8 Substitutes: Donnelly 5 Dijksteel 5 Idowu 5 McMenamin 5 Nlundulu 5
