Rangers lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009

Rangers put their disappointing night in Seville behind them by lifting their first Scottish Cup in 13 years. 

After 120 minutes and penalties in midweek, Giovanni van Bronckhorst made five changes to his team that started the Europa League final with Jon McLaughlin, Leon Balogun, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, and Amad Diallo all starting.

Rangers defeated Hearts 3-1 when the two teams met on the last day of the league season, but it was the Jam Tarts who should have opened the scoring after a good start at Hampden Park. Nathan Atkinson played in a ball that Liam Boyce should have converted but missed. Instead, it fell through to Ellis Simms who got contact on the ball it struck the post. 

The Glasgow team grew into the game as it went on and had a great chance to open the scoring in the first half when on-loan Manchester United forward Amad headed over from close range. 

Craig Gordon was the main reason that Rangers weren’t able to win the game in normal time, especially his late save to stop Joe Aribo in stoppage time. The woodwork also chipped in, when the bar denied Scott Wright’s header. 

Rangers wouldn’t have wanted another extra half hour after the Eintracht Frankfurt game but they did eventually make the breakthrough in the 93rd minute. 

James Tavernier’s corner was headed clear but only as far as to substitute Ryan Jack. The Rangers midfield hammered an effort in under the crossbar that Gordon couldn’t react to make it 1-0 to the Light Blues.

Hearts couldn’t think about mounting a comeback because just a few minutes later they were caught on the counterattack. Ryan Kent led the counter and fed in Wright who took one touch and slotted a low drive past Gordon to seal the win. 

To their credit, Hearts didn’t give up but never looked like they would be able to get back into the game.

Before the 120 minutes were up, Rangers were able to give Alan McGregor his final few minutes at the club and a fitting send-off. 

🏆 @ScottishCup Winners. #RangersFC 💙 pic.twitter.com/0FlIsj5xyu

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 21, 2022