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 225 - 244 of 264

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  1. I went I saw,Falkirk played well,We did'nt,What a­ GOAL!!We Won the Oldest Trophy in World Football for­ the 33rd time!! We....Scottish Clubs can't compete­ with other Leagues..Financially,but We..Rangers­ Football Club are the best here,not always good on the­ eye with the exception of last Sunday,Congratulations­ on the Big Double,We are the People!! sorry that is­ Rangers minded Person's!! Statistics always give­ you the Truth,our Name is on the Trophy AGAIN!! I'm­ away now to enjoy the Summer..Glasgow Rangers Champions­ oh,oh,oh,oh,oh,oohh!! I'll say this Twice before I­ go,"Ha Ha Samaras,Ha Ha Samaras!!!!!!!!!

    From A, on Sun 31 May 9:15AM

  2. I went I saw,Falkirk played well,We did'nt,What a­ GOAL!!We Won the Oldest Trophy in World Football for­ the 33rd time!! We....Scottish Clubs can't compete­ with other Leagues..Financially,but We..Rangers­ Football Club are the best here,not always good on the­ eye with the exception of last Sunday,Congratulations­ on the Big Double,We are the People!! sorry that is­ Rangers minded Person's!! Statistics always give­ you the Truth,our Name is on the Trophy AGAIN!! I'm­ away now to enjoy the Summer..Glasgow Rangers Champions­ oh,oh,oh,oh,oh,oohh!! I'll say this Twice before I­ go,"Ha Ha Samaras,Ha Ha Samaras!!!!!!!!!

    From A, on Sun 31 May 9:15AM

  3. Every time your on here its the same old cancer this­ cancer that. Get a grip. You are one of these people­ that cause problems in football because of the way­ speak. At the end of the day, its only a GAME. Banter­ is good but not the stuff you put out.

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sun 31 May 8:52AM

  4. All Rangers fans who hate Catholics.........Nacho Novo­ won you the cup and he is a Catholic...think on you­ bigotry ladened bunch of morons!

    From Striker, on Sun 31 May 8:36AM

  5. Point 240, Do you ever think of what you are writing?­ Have you ever had a member of your family die of­ cancer? I did, this weekend. If i could find you i­ would beat the living s.h.i.t.e out of you for that­ comment. Talk football on here

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sun 31 May 8:26AM

  6. ahhhh...the scots...such friendly folk....stay over­ your side of the border you buckfast swilling­ barbarians.....ENGLAND FOREVER

    From Imort, on Sun 31 May 8:22AM

  7. I look at the banter on this site and sometimes it­ really puts me off being a Scot. I for one support­ Glasgow Rangers and am very proud to do so but, so can­ everyone who has a brain please cut out the sectairan­ vile toward each other. Those without a brain just­ crack on as you wont understand anyway!! Prodestants­ beleieve in God and all good thing that should come­ naturally. Catholics are the same with an additional­ thing which I wont go into but, hey lets all live in­ harmoney. Next season will be different in the fact­ that my club will struggle to get the type of player­ needed and the tic will have some changes, but not in­ Owen Coyle, why would he want to leave a Premiership­ club for the SPL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ­ No need to think to @#$% this one. Yours Aye, Davey

    From Midnight, on Sun 31 May 8:04AM

  8. jones you are a waster-if your going to the game­ today(although i doubt you've ever been in­ parkhead)-remember that one of your greatest and most­ loyal club servants , who served his club with respect­ and humility, and who this game is in memory of, died­ of the said cancer you wish apon others-you are a sad ­ loser.

    From D-bol, on Sun 31 May 7:25AM

  9. It seems that star players from Britain are becoming as­ rare as hens teeth.Have British kids lost interest in­ soccer now? I remember when it was a rarity for a team­ to have foreigners in their line up now almost every­ team is made up from foreign players not players born­ and bred in the sceptered isle.Remember the home­ internationals when housands attended the matches. Who­ put a stop to those games anyway ? They still play them­ in rugby!Soccer home internationals encouraged young­ players to get capped for their birth place and the­ interest was high so let's gget them going again­ and put some zest back into football.

    From peterthegreat, on Sun 31 May 4:32AM

  10. and theres no need for racism - no wonder EVERYONE­ HATES YOUS!!! - even when the first black player came­ to play in scotland - for rangers.......the skanky huns­ even through bananas at him!!! - very shameful.

    From Darren W, on Sun 31 May 4:09AM

  11. and theres no need for racism - no wonder EVERYONE­ HATES YOUS!!!

    From Darren W, on Sun 31 May 4:08AM

  12. I hope I can be a well-educated man's someone­ special. I have long legs, blond hairs and blue eyes.­ Im kind, well-educated, humurous and cute. Reach me out­ @ _________________ K is s Mi ll ionaire S C om­ ______________ I will reply to all mails.­ Handle------Lovelybutterfly999--------

    From jennetlfgg, on Sun 31 May 1:39AM

  13. DAE NAIN O YIS GIE A SCROAT BOOT SUSAN BOYLE???? . . .­ AWWW MIN YIS IR LITTIN AIS AW DOON

    From JEEMS, on Sun 31 May 1:04AM

  14. AW MIN . . . WHIT HAPPENED TAE SUSAN THE NICHT???? ­ ROBBED SO SHI WIZ . . . BUNCH O BLAICKS TAE MIN . . NAE­ DANGER SIMON COWELL YIV FIXED IT. CANNY HUV A SCOTTISH­ MILF WINNIN IT NOO CUN WI????

    From JEEMS, on Sun 31 May 12:39AM

  15. GLASGOW IS SCOTLANDS CANCER . . . .

    FACT

    From JEEMS, on Sun 31 May 12:21AM

  16. but the wannabee english bluenose proddies be preparred­ next season!!!

    From brian d, on Sun 31 May 12:07AM

  17. strachan - le penguin the worst managers to be­ appointed at the old firm.

    but, seriously - glad­ rangers won it - id hate for strachan to stay on if we­ won.

    to be honest, both teams played gash - but­ rangers just performed just that little bit better!!!

    From brian d, on Sun 31 May 12:04AM

  18. Almost a clean sweep still getting shot of a managers­ ok . Still thats it all over now bring on the taigs­ next season

    From alanwmcquillan, on Sat 30 May 11:52PM

  19. anyone got any bob for sale? - few folk taking it too­ seriously!!!

    celtic will always have/obtain money -­ but the fact is, we have shelled out millions on @#$%­ like JVK (plank) - samaras (50/50) etc, considering the­ likes of king henrik cost just unfer 3/4 of a million -­ you dont need to shell out loads - look at hibs, dundee­ utd and the likes have great young talent without­ forking out - we dont need to shell out anymore....get­ rid of the dead wood, the people just in it to collect­ wages etc and nurture the younger talent - like hibees­ did.

    From brian d, on Sat 30 May 11:51PM

  20. good result considering falkirk were all over them

    From paul, on Sat 30 May 11:27PM
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