Scottish Cup - Rangers win Cup

Eurosport - Sun, 31 May 09:24:00 2009

Rangers completed a domestic double after they beat Falkirk 1-0 in a tight Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park courtesy of a stunning strike from Nacho Novo.

FOOTBALL 2009 Scottish Cup final Kenny Miller congratulates Nacho Novo on scoring Rangers' second goal against Falkirk - 0

Thirty-six seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute, Novo unleashed a screamer from 25 yards to give Rangers a lead which they never relinquished.

The Spaniard allowed the ball to drop in front of him from a throw in by Lafferty, before volleying emphatically past Dani Mallo, who was left helpless.

The big news prior to kick off on a glorious day in Glasgow was the reinstatement of Barry Ferguson to boss Walter Smith's starting line up.

The deposed skipper replaced Maurice Edu, with Lee McCulloch also stepping in after Pedro Mendes was ruled out through injury.

David Weir held aloft the Scottish Cup trophy, a week after the defender had claimed the Scottish Premier League for Smith's side.

The match began at a ferocious tempo, with Falkirk having their share of possession, as well as chances in the opening exchanges.

Rangers had the first chance in just the second minute, when Lee McCulloch rose to meet Steven Davis's corner, placing his header narrowly wide after Steven Whittaker's cross had been turned behind frantically by Gerard Aafjes.

Although Rangers began the game the brighter, Falkirk were not to be overawed, and Bairns boss John Hughes's decision to start with Neil McCann over Carl Finnigan was vindicated as the winger looked sprightly.

Burton O'Brien lashed a shot over Neil Alexander's crossbar in the tenth minute, leaning back to drive his effort from the edge of the Rangers penalty area, but it was a sign of intent.

Four minutes later, McCann found some space on the edge of the area and swerved a vicious drive which dipped to clip the crossbar, with Alexander rooted to the spot.

The ball again found McCann in the 21st minute, with the winger unmarked in the centre of the penalty area, but scuffed his shot wide. With the benefit of hindsight, McCann would have taken a touch and found some poise, but he rushed his effort.

A second devilish corner from Davis was headed back across the goalmouth dangerously by David Weir on the stroke of half-time, but Falkirk skipper Darren Barr was on hand to divert it to safety.

Chances were less abundant in the second half, with Rangers content to soak up the pressure which Falkirk could apply.

A deep cross from Patrick Cregg in the 51st minute found Thomas Scobbie at the back post, but the defender's header drifted wide, with Alexander scrambling across his goalline.

Falkirk had a goal rightly disallowed for offside midway through the half when Lovell scores from a cross fed in by substitute Michael Higdon, who had strayed beyond Madjid Bougherra to receive Arfield's ball.

Indeed it was not until the 79th minute that Rangers carved a meaningful second-half attack of their own, but following Novo's exploits, the pressure was eased and the champions showed their composure.

The ebullient Miller scampered down the left and dinked a cross past the dive of Barr, and Lafferty almost converted from close range, with his shot drifting narrowly wide.

Three minutes later, Falkirk come agonisingly close to equalising when Steve Lovell pounced on a loose ball and poked a shot against the far post, with Alexander helpless.

But that was to be Falkirk's final assault on the Rangers goal, and the party in the blue half of Glasgow could begin in earnest, when Alexander punted the ball up field to the sound of the final whistle.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 245 - 264 of 264

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  1. Why do people always start debates on here, not­ relating to football.. I'm a Rangers fan and­ I'm well chuffed they won.. Lets win the treble­ next season..

    From Marie B, on Mon 1 Jun 9:22AM

  2. Betting update

    Mr Jones 5/2 9/4
    Stub1 2/1 ­ 10/3
    Bjk 3/1 10/3

    All very close in the­ betting some money has come for Mr Jones & Bjk has­ come into the race at 3/1 & is on the drift now out­ to 10/3 with Stub1

    You get the best odds with The­ Reaper better than Paddypower

    From Grim Reaper, on Mon 1 Jun 8:50AM

  3. PAUL G - YER DAYS ARE NUMBERED YA LITTLE PRI*CK!!! -­ REMEMBER YER PAL MARK???

    From brian d, on Mon 1 Jun 6:07AM

  4. SIRSTEVEJONES:

    I CAN FIND OUT WHERE BJK STAYS THE NEXT­ TIME HE SIGNS ON OR POSTS A MESSAGE BY PINGING HIS PC -­ SOME OF US ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT CLEVERER THAN THE­ AVERAGE BEAR BJK!!! - THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS BJK. I HOPE­ YOU LIKE TORTURE!!

    From brian d, on Mon 1 Jun 6:05AM

  5. paul g -

    good - one less hun in the world!!!!! - maybe­ its your turn to get it along with gonahrea and die in­ anguish - or someone KNOWS WHO YOU ARE and set fire to­ you and yer house - carboard city number 25!!!

    am up­ for a battle can i help to beat the sh*it out of him­ and any one else whos a prob - on yer side­ sirsteve!!!

    BKJ? - you are a sheep shagging ars*sehole­ or a tinky jambo!!!

    tell all the jambos you know,­ wallace mercer is dead and we're no!!!

    From brian d, on Mon 1 Jun 5:57AM

  6. Mr Jones & Stub1 let me know where you are meeting­ & I will come & hold the jackets.
    Think I will­ run a book on this.

    Mr Jones 3/1
    Stub1 ­ 15/8

    Place your bets

    From Grim Reaper, on Mon 1 Jun 4:52AM

  7. paul g u are a 2 faced git

    From mac, on Sun 31 May 5:45PM

  8. I said tommy burns was the best manager celtic had and­ if it wasnt for david murry's millions he would­ have won the league. And also most fans remember­ managers that win things which is a sad thing. Whats­ wrong with that?

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sun 31 May 4:21PM

  9. big jock knew,u are a low life.I can see u now with­ your knuckles scraping along the ground as u walk to­ the dole to sign on.after reading your comments I think­ u have a secret PERVET,CARE TO SHARE IT WITH US PERVET

    From macb57, on Sun 31 May 3:11PM

  10. paul g u are a hypocrite,u are one of the worse bigots­ on this site,i have read all the lies u write about­ jock stein and I also remember what u wrote about tommy­ burns.
    I think i am right in saying that after reading­ your comments that u are a sad lonely
    c.unt with no­ friends

    From macb57, on Sun 31 May 3:00PM

  11. paul g ,we have read all the bile u have written in the­ past ,I remember the bile u wrote when Tommy Burns died­ u feck.in moran.u are the last person to tell anyone to­ talk football,feck.in mummys boy

    From mac, on Sun 31 May 2:51PM

  12. Sir Steve Jones...@#$%....I will take you up on your­ offer of meeting up ya plick

    From stub1, on Sun 31 May 12:02PM

  13. PT249...I think you will find that The FA Cup in­ England is the oldest m8 by 3 years....FA CUP­ 1871---Scottish FA CUP 1874....

    From stub1, on Sun 31 May 11:55AM

  14. I am a scot living in england for the last 40 years a­ true blue born in govan went tae a catholic school put­ up with all the abuse from the poncey twats that called­ them selves christians now f#ck off shut yer gub

    From david k, on Sun 31 May 10:53AM

  15. Paul G...always had banter and dont always agree with­ you, however your comment to the moron Jones, I back­ 150%....anyone who has been through the pain of losing­ a loved one to this horrible illness will agree.......A­ challange Sir Steve....I am running the Glasgow half­ Marathon again for McMillian want to join me

    From Stuart, on Sun 31 May 10:35AM

  16. I must say that watching the game yesterday it was very­ embarrassing watching a £3.2 million pound­ player....Laughertty was disgraceful, Whitaker,­ McCulloch, Ferguson and Bhoyd not at the races....

    From Stuart, on Sun 31 May 10:32AM

  17. ssshhhhhhhhh girl settle down and be quiet-no one wants­ to hear your incoherent rabbles

    From D-bol, on Sun 31 May 10:19AM

  18. jones girl -check yer pants bawbag, you'll then see­ whats rancid-your history of posting reflects on your­ upbringing and from yours its plain for all and sundry­ to see that you have been unfortunate enough to have­ been through the gutter-i wonder what happened to you­ in your younger days that has left you so bitter and­ twisted up inside -care to share?, did some rangers­ fans use you as there object of amusement over a period­ of time and we now find your only way to deal with this­ is through bigoted, racist comments on here?-go get a­ wash and a shave, apply some anusol and maybe­ you'll feel better-by the way there's a game at­ parkhead today incase you don't know, so if you are­ the true celtic fan you claim to be you'll not be­ posting on here today as you'll be there paying­ your respect and thanks to your celtic legend Tommy­ Burns

    From D-bol, on Sun 31 May 9:54AM

  19. Anyone know the words to the Bluebell are Blue I heard­ its quite a hard song to learn. Well done The Gers MAKE­ MINE A DOUBLE......Not much Green about this weekend­ apart from the grass. One in a row here we go and Big­ Thanks to all the Larkie Boys.

    From Grim Reaper, on Sun 31 May 9:46AM

  20. think you'll find most rangers fans don't hate­ catholics-just hate septic-plain and simple-majority of­ our most sucessful players over the last 20 years have­ been catholic-it doesn't matter to us but it seems­ to matter to you.
    get over it and loose the chip on­ your shoulders.

    From D-bol, on Sun 31 May 9:22AM
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