Scottish Premier League - Gers cut lead

Eurosport - Sat, 11 Apr 19:09:00 2009

Rangers blew the SPL title race wide open again with a 3-1 win over Motherwell at Ibrox as they moved within a single point of Celtic following their draw against Hearts.

Bruno Aguiar v Celtic, FOOTBALL - 0

Andrius Velicka took full advantage of only his third start of the season by opening the scoring at Ibrox but Kris Boyd refused to be outdone and helped himself to a double - bringing his tally for the season to 28 goals.

John Sutton provided Motherwell with a brief glimmer of hope but Rangers managed to secure the win

Velicka made the most of his surprise inclusion when he claimed his first goal since grabbing the winner against Falkirk on the opening day of the season.

Steven Smith - who had not featured for the first team since last season's Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone - supplied the cross into the box which was flicked back towards goal by Boyd.

His header came off Steven Hammell, who failed to clear the danger and the ball fell to Velicka to bundle over the line from close range.

Boyd then claimed a goal of his own with 10 minutes gone.

He squeezed between two Motherwell defenders to collect a lovely long ball from Steven Whittaker before rifling into the back of the net from 35 yards.

Motherwell grasped a lifeline and had the net bulging after 37 minutes following a period of possession when they began to show signs of imposing themselves on the game.

The ball fell kindly for Sutton and, out of nowhere, he had a go with an opportunist shot which he lashed into the top corner, leaving Neil Alexander stunned in the Rangers goal.

Boyd finally found the back of the net again with 65 minutes on the clock when Pedro Mendes was tripped in the box by Brian McLean and Boyd stepped up to stroke home from the penalty spot.

At Tynecastle, Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar (pictured) cancelled out Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's first minute opener for the champions in a 1-1 draw.

Celtic made a dream start when Vennegoor of Hesselink volleyed home his third goal in eight days inside 30 seconds.

Andreas Hinkel crossed towards the Dutchman, who hooked his shot into the corner past Hearts keeper Janos Balogh's weak attempted save.

Hearts tried to mount an immediate response with Marius Zaliukas heading over from a Ruben Palazuelos cross.

But Vennegoor of Hesselink was giving the Hearts defence a torrid time. After sharp interplay with Scott McDonald, the Dutchman fired beyond the far post.

Then he got his head to Lee Naylor's near-post corner, only to see his effort bounce off the woodwork.

Just as Celtic were taking control, Aguiar hit a spectacular equaliser in the 32nd minute.

Michael Stewart won a foul 30 yards out and Aguiar curled the free-kick over the wall and into the corner with Artur Boruc well beaten.

Celtic defender Stephen McManus was forced off with an injury at half-time and Hearts tried to take advantage with a fast start after the interval.

Zaliukas shot narrowly wide from 20 yards after a powerful run and Calum Elliot should have done better than fire a low cross into Boruc's hands after Michael Stewart's pass had sent him clear in the left channel.

Nakamura came on for Willo Flood soon after and immediately fired in a free-kick that appeared to strike Elliot on the hand in the penalty area, but referee Craig Thomson waved away their appeals.

Balogh got down well to hold a powerful long-range drive by Nakamura, whose compatriot Koki Mizuno replaced Aiden McGeady with eight minutes left.

Nakamura's curling effort was forced just wide by a brilliant block from Zaliukas after Naylor had set up his team-mate.

Mizuno blasted wide after a long throw fell perfectly for him 12 yards out as Celtic failed to find a late winner.

TeamTalk / AFP

Comment 10 - 29 of 29

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  1. hehehhehe.nice one steve.

    From Marty, on Thu 16 Apr 10:52PM

  2. LMAO @Paul Geebag..................whatever you are on­ man I want some!

    From Marty, on Tue 14 Apr 10:21PM

  3. Hun ref..nuff said!

    From Marty, on Tue 14 Apr 10:13PM

  4. billy you like th league with most catholic players?you­ fu cking idi ot,what a load a shi te and a waste of­ ink..

    From zzgus f, on Tue 14 Apr 2:23AM

  5. paul g th titles ours?get in front for a change,how­ longs it been ya we ti t ?

    From zzgus f, on Tue 14 Apr 2:21AM

  6. SPOT ON!

    From MORNA, on Mon 13 Apr 5:27PM

  7. The English like to write and talk trash all the time­ because they have massive insecurities. They think­ because their top 4 are having a bit of success in the­ Champions League that THAT makes their league "the­ best league in the world".. LMAO. The last time I­ checked there were 16 other teams in the Epl, and if it­ was as strong as they want people to believe then why­ are they not dominating the Uefa Cup? Their League as a­ whole is a JOKE. It's full of DROSS and they know­ it. That's why they feel the need to keep saying­ "the Epl is the best legue in the world"..­ LMAO. I turn on Sky Sports News and they're either­ saying it themselves or they're licking some­ FOREIGNERS balls and forcing them to say it.. LMAO. I­ turn on the radio(usually Talk Sport)and what do I hear­ "the Epl is the best league in the world"..­ LMAO It's CONSTANT. They've even added it in­ when they're advertising 1 of their games. It goes­ something like: "watch ? vs ? from the BEST &­ most EXCITING league in the WORLD".. LMFAO. If­ they were so sure of it, WHY do they have to keep­ saying it? They want it so bad they're trying to­ force it on people. And they must think if they keep­ saying it - it will become FACT.. LMAO. I don't­ have any problem with people who think the­ "Epl" IS the best league in the world as­ it's all about opinions. I happen to think the­ Spanish league is the best league in the world, where I­ see more attacking-attractive&skillful football­ compared with the kick and rush English style. But I­ don't feel the need to go around everywhere and say­ "La Liga is the best league in the world."­ The English clubs are selling themselves like filthy­ wh()res to any clueless NON-FOOTBALL people and­ bringing in FOREIGNER after FOREIGNER... while the­ ROOTS & IDENTITY of their clubs are slipping­ further and futher away. The Epl??? Can it really be­ called that anymore??? Imagine the English teams trying­ to compete in the Champions League WITHOUT all those­ FOREIGNERS..ROFLMFAO..at dorisdazzler.

    From King_Billy, on Mon 13 Apr 1:13PM

  8. i agree hearts are doing well considering they dont­ have a decent team but they have a good manager the­ others in the top 6 are decent teams they just need­ rangers and celtic to stop poaching players just­ because they cant bring in decent talent themselfs and­ are scared of competition they buy the brest then wast­ them on the bench get it right gypo

    From paul, on Mon 13 Apr 12:00PM

  9. pt22 rangers and celtic seem to be having a lot of off­ days then ya prat

    From paul, on Mon 13 Apr 11:57AM

  10. Hey gardner, the only other decent team are hearts, the­ rest are mince and only get points when they catch the­ old firm on an off day.

    From Claire, on Mon 13 Apr 10:36AM

  11. celtic and rangers have been @#$% this season but they­ are still the top 2 if they continue to play as bad as­ this next season there could be a shock on the cards as­ none of the top 6 teams are scared anymore they no they­ can go to parkhead or ipox and take a point maybe even­ 3

    From paul, on Sun 12 Apr 10:03PM

  12. we'll win all our remaining games and be­ champions......did you notice i can spell unlike you­ soap dodgers

    From colin1969anderson, on Sun 12 Apr 9:09PM

  13. what match was the reporter watchin at tynecastle cos­ the game i watched was one where hearts were in control­ for about 70minutes, f**k this report wrtitten by the­ tims

    From criagkirk551, on Sun 12 Apr 8:35PM

  14. The title is our's. Told you celtic will lose­ points in there away games. The gers are going strong.

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sun 12 Apr 8:11PM

  15. i can't stand alex furguson ,his is a c##t,be glad­ when he leave's the salford red sox

    From dorisdazzler, on Sun 12 Apr 4:50PM

  16. dorisdazzler how many English managers have won the­ English Prem? 0 how many Scots 2 well to be fair a­ English manager has not finished in the top 5 and 3­ scots have so to me thats bloody shamefull but look at­ the English team and there managers lately says it all­ really LMFAO

    From clarkybull, on Sun 12 Apr 4:17PM

  17. Bring on Ibrox , we'll get a laugh wi five Bellies­­ Boyd , Clubfoot and the wee Spanish Tattie ...huffin­ an­ puffing away , trying to impress other clubs for­ the­ end of season exodus expected at Catle Greyskull­­ .....Hail Hail four in a row

    From tontomcporco, on Sun 12 Apr 2:27PM

  18. No matter who is injured rangers just keep replacing­ them with good players, do celtic? eh no. Rangers­ have the best squad by milesssssssssssss

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sun 12 Apr 2:27PM

  19. Hey doris, take all scots and foreigners out of english­ league and you would be left with a @#$% league. Think­ before you open your mouth ok.

    From oke, on Sun 12 Apr 1:49PM

  20. yOUR A T-W-A-T NO 10.

    From Charles, on Sun 12 Apr 1:47PM
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