Hearts vs Rangers. Viaplay Cup Semi Final.
Hampden ParkAttendance44,734.
Report as Rangers beat Hearts 3-1 in the Viaplay Cup semi-final to set up a meeting with Aberdeen in next month's final; two second-half James Tavernier goals sent Rangers on their way to victory; sub Scott Wright was also on target, while Lawrence Shankland netted a late pen for Hearts
Tuesday 7 November 2023 12:33, UK
Two second-half James Tavernier goals helped Rangers beat Hearts 3-1 in the Viaplay Cup semi-final on Sunday to set up a final showdown with Aberdeen.
The game was tightly poised at half-time, only for Tavernier to turn it in Rangers' favour after the break by first converting a 50th-minute penalty after Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark had felled Danilo in the box.
Substitute Scott Wright soon added a second after a well-worked team goal, before captain Tavernier confirmed the win with a sublime free-kick after 64 minutes, with Lawrence Shankland's late spot-kick a mere consolation for Steven Naismith's side.
As a result, new Rangers manager Philippe Clement - who warned his players they have won nothing yet - is now one win away from claiming a trophy just two months after taking charge at Ibrox when his side take on Aberdeen at Hampden Park on December 17 looking for a 28th Scottish League Cup triumph.
These two sides only met in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox at the end of October, when on that occasion Rangers needed two stoppage-time goals to seal an unlikely comeback win - but there was no such drama at Hampden on Sunday afternoon as Clement's team cruised into the Viaplay Cup final.
Rangers dominated the first 45 minutes, with Todd Cantwell's close-range header which Clark kept out at full stretch just before the half-hour mark the closest they came to making the breakthrough.
Surprisingly, Cantwell was withdrawn at half-time, to be replaced by Wright, with the new man producing an impressive second-half display that helped turn the game in his side's favour.
The opening goal came just after the interval when Clark ill advisedly raced off his line, only to bundle over Danilo, with referee Nick Walsh immediately pointing for a penalty.
Tavernier kept his cool from the spot as Clark did not move, anticipating the Rangers captain would place his shot straight down the middle, only for the spot kick to go to his left.
One soon became two after a lovely flowing move ended with Danilo feeding Wright in space in the box, with the sub doing the rest with a low drive into the corner as the game slipped away from Hearts.
It was all over when that man Tavernier curled a sumptuous free kick from the edge of the box into the top right hand corner, with Clark again motionless on his line, for his 111th goal for the club.
There was still time for late drama when Stephen Kingsley was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the box, only for the Video Assistant Referee Willie Collum to send Walsh to the pitch-side monitor.
The on-field official agreed with his colleague that Kingsley had actually been clipped by sub Ben Davies, awarding Hearts a penalty and rescinding the Hearts defender's sending-off, with Shankland keeping his cool from the spot for a late consolation.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement:
"It was more of a tactical one [to sub Cantwell]. Also with his yellow card I didn't want to take chances with that - I knew they would try and irritate Todd more - and with Scott and his energy I wanted to rotate with the two of them like the last couple of weeks because I want fresh players up front. It was just a tactical one.
"We don't have anything. If we are in a final or quarter-final it's the same. It's about winning so I'm looking forward to December but I'm focused on December. I don't have so much time to be happy or satisfied because I need to think about the next game which is why I made a few changes at the end. It's a big game again on Thursday against Sparta - I don't have so much time to be happy or satisfied.
"The most pleasing thing was the way the team played. We were dominant the whole game and created a lot of chances. We had three goals and good attacks but we could have scored much more than that and you see the team growing game by game. You see the players understanding the way we want to play more and more so we get a bigger squad which will be important to be competitive in four competitions.
"Tav [Tavernier] made a really good game today but also in the last couple of weeks and he understands what we want to do. He's one of the leaders in the dressing room and on the pitch and I need more players like that. I hope to see more and more leadership in the group but I'm quite satisfied about that already for this moment that several players do that as well."
Hearts boss Steven Naismith:
"We had a chance to get to a final and didn't manage it so I'm really disappointed. The first half was cagey, we managed to regroup at half-time and talk about things we could do slightly better. The game changes on the penalty so quickly after half-time.
"Some people will say it was or it wasn't a penalty but, as a forward, I think he [Danilo] anticipates the ball. As much as Zander is trying to get out of the way, his momentum takes him into his foot. If it was for us, I think I would be asking for it.
"The one thing I would add to that is I find it frustrating that the first thought for Celtic against us at Tynecastle was 'penalty', the first thought today was 'penalty', but for us the first thought was 'red card'.
"To think he [Kingsley] would try to dive when the ball is miles away, going out of the park. He was never going to get a penalty for a dive. It's just strange that that seems to happen and first thought is 'red card' when it is a clear kick.
"There have been a few penalties in recent weeks with that stamp on the foot, Aberdeen in Europe was one. Why was it not just penalty then we can review it? It was red card then we'll review it, which was strange for me."
Rangers' attention turns to the Europa League with a game at home to Sparta Prague on Thursday night. Kick-off 8pm.
Their next Scottish Premiership match is away to Livingston on Sunday November 12, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 12pm.
Hearts travel to Motherwell in their next league match on November 11. Kick-off 3pm.
