Rangers 4, Motherwell 3
| Match Date: Saturday, April 19 2003 |
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| Competition: Scottish Cup Semi-Final | |
| Attendance: 29,352 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Hammell (Cowan 75),
Adams, Leitch (Lehmann 86), Pearson, McFadden, Clarkson, Craig (Offiong 68).
Subs not used: Woods, Lasley.
Motherwell scorers: Craig (15), McFadden (27), Adams (90).
Yellow Cards: Vaughan, Adams, McFadden, Pearson, Offiong.
SUPER WELL EDGED OUT IN BATTLING SEMI
Rangers 4 Motherwell 3
A FANTASTIC FIGHTING PERFORMANCE From a Motherwell side boasting an average age of just 23 gave the holders an enormous fright at Hampden. Only another dismal performance from Referee Mike McCurry, coupled with some bad luck, saw the Ibrox men scrape through to the final.
Motherwell pressed up early and regained early possession. It was, however, their opponents who took a very early lead. Ferguson took a pass from Numan, cut it back into the path of Konterman and he scored from 25 yards though Averladze was standing off-side as the ball was struck Motherwell responded positively and a superb power run from Stephen Pearson saw him force a corner following good play from Craig and Adams, though Amoruso cleared. Rangers then got a soft free kick as Mols went slumping into a heap under a soft Hammel challenge though Rangers were then caught off side. Numan was guilty of climbing on McFadden soon after and only a well-timed Ricksen challenge stopped Pearson on another run. Better Motherwell pressing saw McFadden have a shot on 18 charged down by Muscat. A ball into the box from McFadden was only partially cleared by Amoruso and broke to Adams but his shot from 25 yards was over. A more typical shot from Konterman met with loud cheers from the Fir Park fans when he woefully sliced a shot well wide near the edge of the box. Motherwell were well on top and came close when a superb ball from Hammel found Craig but his turn and shot was held by Klos. However, the pressing told and Motherwell deservedly drew level after 15 minutes with a goal of pure class. Corrigan gathered possession in midfield and slotted a perfect ball through to Clarkson. Well on-side he cutback for Stephen Craig who made no mistake from inside the six-yard box. Rangers then gained a free kick some 20 yards out when McFadden tripped Averladze but after taking some time to decide on the taker and complaining about the wall being an inch closer than the minimum Ferguson twice drove against the wall and Motherwell broke. Unfortunately Clarkson failed to find McFadden but it was good stuff from the Fir Parkers. There was an ugly clash soon after when Mols reacted angrily to the challenge from Vaughan. Whilst this was being sorted out another angry exchange took place and once calmness had been restored Referee McCurry decided to yellow card Vaughan, Adams, Mols and Moore. It all stemmed from a soft free kick given when Mols crumpled easily under a challenge from Vaughan outside the box. Play eventually resumed with Amoruso cracking the ball off the wall.
Motherwell looked more likely and their clever play paid dividends when they went ahead near the half-hour. Craig bought down a high ball to lay it off to Pearson. He was caught inside the box by Amoruso but before a penalty could be given the classy McFadden had already sent a superb curling left-foot shot beyond Klos and into the back of the net. It was a goal of pure class and no more than Motherwell deserved. The response from Rangers was a cross into the box from Ricksen which was cleared to McCann but his ball saw Ferguson weakly pass out of play. The Fir Parkers were pushing up for more and again came close. Amoruso conceded a corner which was cleared as far as Vaughan and his speculative lob from outside the box fell only just the wrong side of the post. Motherwell had a claim for a penalty when Moore appeared to push Clarkson over in the box as the youngster tried to meet the cross from Craig but the claim was ignored. Rangers then claimed a penalty themselves when Averladze crumpled under pressure from Vaughan and whilst the Motherwell man had an arm on the striker there was absolutely no force used whatsoever. Four minutes from the break Motherwell passed up a great chance to put themselves well ahead. An error from Amoruso saw Craig clear on the right and his cross found Clarkson but unfortunately the young forward couldn't wrap a foot around the ball and sliced it wide from in front of goals. Just before the break Mols ran clear on Dubordeau but the keeper did well to force the Dutchman wide and as he stumbled shot wide.
Half-time Rangers 1 Motherwell 2
The Ibrox men made an early change with Thompson replacing Averladze. Team-mate Muscat had to be sharp to deny Clarkson as he hooked a dangerous Adams ball away near the six-yard line. Thompson was immediately involved with an angry reaction to a challenge from Partridge but received no card for his theatrics. A minute later his team almost equalised when a shot from Ferguson hit the cross bar though Hammel took the ball clear. Rangers then gained a free kick when Numan ran into Corrigan near the touchline but was given the award Referee McCurry. Cleared by Partridge to Konterman his low shot was well held by Dubordeau. Lucky to escape a booking was Muscat when he sent Pearson flying. Motherwell still looked dangerous and almost scored a third. Ricksen made a heavy challenge on Clarkson giving away a free kick 35 yards out. There was no attempt to play the ball but somehow Ricksen escaped a card. Hammel crossed in and Pearson headed over when he could just as easily have nodded home. Motherwell were made to pay as the Ibrox men drew level shortly afterwards. Ricksen played Thompson through and has pass found Mols who slotted beyond Dubordeau from inside the box. It was cruel on Motherwell but worse was to follow. A contentiously awarded free kick proved to be a crucial moment. McCann and Vaughan contested a ball out wide with the Rangers men given the nod after weakly trying to avoid Vaughan's intentions. Vaughan, marking Amoruso, was pushed aside by the Italian giving him a free header to score. Motherwell appealed for a penalty soon after when Craig and Amoruso clashed inside the box but the decision went the way of the Ibrox side. Rangers attacked and McCann slipped an 18-yard shot wide of the target. A minute later McCann then sent a low cross into the box but Dubordeau held it well. More poor refereeing saw Pearson win the ball from Ferguson but the Rangers man get the free kick and be allowed to take it some 20 yards upfield from the apparent offence. A quite shocking tackle from Thompson on Hammel failed to gain what should have been a yellow card. Rangers then won a corner when Vaughan knocked out but from Dubordeau's take he sent Motherwell upfield where they forced two successive corners of their own. And from the second Clarkson headed back for Partridge who narrowly headed the ball over with Klos beaten. Motherwell made a change, taking off Craig and replacing him with Richard Offiong.
A deep cross from McCann then saw Hammel and Thompson clash and whilst the latter recovered Stevie Hammel suffered a hand injury and had to go off for treatment. Whilst he was off the field of play the space caused by his absence helped Rangers go ahead. Muscat played a one-two with Muscat and his cross came off the head of Partridge who could do nothing about diverting the ball into the net. A drive from Ferguson soon after went well wide before Motherwell made a change, Cowan replacing the injured Hammel. Rangers also made a change, Moore replaced by Malcolm, then took Ricksen off in place of Hughes. Motherwell had a free kick opportunity when Numan brought down McFadden but the chance went. McFadden then sent a great ball to the fart post where Pearson hooked back but just beyond Clarkson and the ball was cleared. The Fir Parkers had a claim for a penalty ignored when McFadden was sandwiched inside the box between Hughes and Muscat and was booked for pointing out the obvious to Referee McCurry who stood just yards away. Stephen Pearson was then booked for being late on Amoruso but Referee McCurry decided to ignore the flailing arms of Malcolm who was doing a fair amount of unnecessary pushing. Dirk Lehmann then replaced Scott Leitch for Motherwell. The Fir Parkers finished the stronger, McFadden shooting wide then Adams curling a free kick not far over after Lehmann had been flattened by Malcolm. Offiong then saw yellow when he was carded by the fussy McCurry for daring to show disappointment at a soft foul. And just on the final whistle Motherwell ended the scoring. Offiong forced a corner and when his shot was blocked Adams was alert to hook the ball home. It was not to be, however, for Motherwell though they emerged with enormous credit from a fine performance.
Full time Rangers 4 Motherwell 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen