Rangers vs Motherwell. Viaplay Cup Semi Final.
TBCAttendance44,506.
Monday 23 October 2017 10:24, UK
Louis Moult's double sent Motherwell into the Betfred Cup final as Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha and opposite number Stephen Robinson were sent to the stands during a bad-tempered affair.
Moult scrambled home from a 52nd-minute corner and produced a stunning first-time lob to seal a 2-0 semi-final victory and a return trip to Hampden to face Celtic on November 26.
Both managers were ordered off by referee Steven McLean for clashing on the touchline after the already-booked Motherwell striker Ryan Bowman caught Fabio Cardoso with an elbow in an incident that went unpunished.
Robinson spent his time relaying messages to assistant Keith Lasley while Caixinha might have been contemplating what the future holds after declaring in midweek that his team had only two options: to "win or win".
Both sides went direct in the opening quarter but though Rangers had more joy, Dean Windass hurried a weak shot straight at Trevor Carson and Alfredo Morelos shot wide from 16 yards.
Bowman was booked for catching Cardoso with his arm and the feisty tone continued as Morelos remonstrated with Robinson after going down theatrically following a clash with Peter Hartley.
Moult picked himself up off the turf after being floored by Cardoso's flailing arm before curling a 25-yard effort just wide off the Portugal defender, while Motherwell threatened from Chris Cadden's corner, only for Ryan Jack to block Cedric Kipre's effort on the line.
Rangers left-back Declan John headed wide from a good chance on the break and his side created several opportunities early in the second half, but again Windass shot straight at Carson and Motherwell soon went ahead.
Cadden delivered a corner into the goalmouth and Hartley and Moult saw headers stopped by the bar and Jack before the striker lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Rangers were forced into a substitution after Bowman's elbow left Cardoso's nose bloodied, Ross McCrorie coming on after the flashpoint saw Caixinha and Robinson sent from their dugouts.
Rangers tried to force their way back in but Daniel Candeias sent a couple of wild shots well off target and Moult showed him how it was done in the 74th minute, letting Dunne's ball down the left flank bounce before lobbing Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick from 25 yards.
Bruno Alves seemed lucky to stay on the park after appearing to kick Moult on the ground but he had done his job and Motherwell fans were celebrating their first semi-final win over Rangers.
