Rangers v Dundee United 12/01/14
Even before a ball was kicked in this eagerly anticipated Scottish cup semi final there was much controversy surrounding the venue, ticket allocations, pitch sizes and even the pre-match paper displays. Come 12th of January at 12:45 it was good to let the football on the pitch finally do the talking.
In the first stages of the match both sides looked to be moving the ball around the pitch nicely, however United looked to have the sharper and more precise passing with their constant inter-changing in the attacking third of the pitch. Throughout the first 15 minutes there was wasn’t many clear cut chances, as both teams looked to carve their way through the oppositions defence but failing to do so. The first massive chance was at 18 minutes when Rangers play making midfielder Dean Shiels went one on one with the 6 foot 1 goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak and missed the target all together. A sign that Rangers were able to step up to Scottish Premiership level?.
At 22 minutes United were handed their first chance of the match when a Gavin Gunning header from half way bounced passed the Rangers defenders into the path of Stuart Armstong who finished neatly into the bottom left corner of the goal. Just after the goal the tangerines created another good chance when Ryan Gauld and Nadir Ciftci exchanged passes splitting the Rangers defence open as Ciftci forced gers keeper Steve Simonsen to palm away Ciftci’s effort from just outside the box.
Rangers will have felt the match could have ended so differently as they missed another good chance when the ball was dinked over the ball watching John Souttar into the path of Fraser Aird who set it up nicely for former Dundee United club captain Jon Daly to only sky it over the bar into a mass of Arabs who once again found themselves putting their hands up for Jon Daly.
At 35 minutes when Rangers were beginning to show slightly more attacking promise Ryan Gauld nut megged Rangers right back Richard Foster just inside the box as he cut the ball back excellently into the path of Scotland international Gary Mackay-Steven who struck the ball off Bilel Mohsni and to the other side of Simonsen. 2-0 United.
Taking advantage of the height of players like Jon Daly, Lee McCulloch and Bilel Mohsni Rangers looked most threatening through set pieces. With Rangers left back Stevie Smith’s deadly dead ball delivery.
Just 4 minutes before half time Rangers found themselves with a free kick outside the Dundee United half and the Rangers fullback Steven Smith once again showed his class from the dead ball situation and hit into the bottom left of the goal despite a hand from keeper Cierzniak.
At half time Dundee United had looked pretty comfortable, as many suggested their youngsters would freeze on such a big occasion. Rangers did however look threatening when they looped crosses at the flapping goalie Rado Cierzniak.
The first half had proved that both teams had attacking threats in the form of Stuart Armstrong, Fraser Aird, Dean Shields and Nadir Ciftci. Much of the second half seemed as if both teams had started to figure out each over. When United were in possession they looked content to pass the ball about then drive forward when in the wider channels. When Rangers received the ball they desperately drove forward looking for the equaliser.
Around the 60 minute mark Rangers lack of playing quality oppositions took its toile as they ran out of ideas and looked fairly lackadaisical at the back.
The final 10 minutes of the match was extremely open as chances fell for Rangers to equalise and for Dundee United to put themselves into the final. At 83 minutes Dundee United’s left back Andrew Robertson played a long ball into the Rangers box in which Ricky Foster gathered the ball and passed sharply onto stand in goalkeeper Steve Simonsen who failed to clear the ball and Nadir Ciftci pounced after the loose ball, rounded the despairing Simonsen and scored the goal which sent United into the Scottish cup final at Celtic park next month. As soon as the third goal of the match was smashed into the net the fans that famously suggested “they don’t do walking away” were pouring out of the stadium to the sound of United fans singing “you’re not Rangers anymore”. It must have been a sickening sight for any Rangers fan.
After a display where United could have played better and seemingly Rangers put in their best effort it was a fair result for United as they reached their second Scottish cup final in 4 years.
Winning team Player Ratings:
Cierzniak- 7. Nervy first half but made an excellent save from a deflected Rangers set piece.
Wilson-6. Looked slow when up against Aird.
Souttar-7. Lost ball in first few minutes but had a decent game up against big Jon Daly.
Gunning-7.5. Dealt well with Daly. Works well with Souttar.
Robertson- 8. Not his best game but still brilliant work off the ball and few good runs.
Paton- 8. Bossed midfield and stopped many attacks.
Rankin- 7.5. Could tell how much he wanted into the final when he was putting his body in the way of everything. A brilliant leader.
Armstong- 8.5 Played a very good game, produced a few killer balls.
Gauld- 7.5 Not best game but closed down Rangers players very well and great work for second goal.
Mackay-Steven- 7.5. Quiet game but always gave United an extra option in attack.
Ciftci- 7.5. Another not with his best game but will always be known for his celebration before scoring the winner.
Watson-7. Looked stronger and got forward more that Wilson.
Dow- 6.5 Didn’t do a lot but looked pretty good when coming on and gave a new attacking dimension.
Gomis- 6. Not given a lot of time on pitch but good work rate.
Article by Joseph James.
Follow on twitter for Scottish match reviews and player reviews- @josephjamesy00
Even before a ball was kicked in this eagerly anticipated Scottish cup semi final there was much controversy surrounding the venue, ticket allocations, pitch sizes and even the pre-match paper displays. Come 12th of January at 12:45 it was good to let the football on the pitch finally do the talking.
In the first stages of the match both sides looked to be moving the ball around the pitch nicely, however United looked to have the sharper and more precise passing with their constant inter-changing in the attacking third of the pitch. Throughout the first 15 minutes there was wasn’t many clear cut chances, as both teams looked to carve their way through the oppositions defence but failing to do so. The first massive chance was at 18 minutes when Rangers play making midfielder Dean Shiels went one on one with the 6 foot 1 goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak and missed the target all together. A sign that Rangers were able to step up to Scottish Premiership level?.
At 22 minutes United were handed their first chance of the match when a Gavin Gunning header from half way bounced passed the Rangers defenders into the path of Stuart Armstong who finished neatly into the bottom left corner of the goal. Just after the goal the tangerines created another good chance when Ryan Gauld and Nadir Ciftci exchanged passes splitting the Rangers defence open as Ciftci forced gers keeper Steve Simonsen to palm away Ciftci’s effort from just outside the box.
Rangers will have felt the match could have ended so differently as they missed another good chance when the ball was dinked over the ball watching John Souttar into the path of Fraser Aird who set it up nicely for former Dundee United club captain Jon Daly to only sky it over the bar into a mass of Arabs who once again found themselves putting their hands up for Jon Daly.
At 35 minutes when Rangers were beginning to show slightly more attacking promise Ryan Gauld nut megged Rangers right back Richard Foster just inside the box as he cut the ball back excellently into the path of Scotland international Gary Mackay-Steven who struck the ball off Bilel Mohsni and to the other side of Simonsen. 2-0 United.
Taking advantage of the height of players like Jon Daly, Lee McCulloch and Bilel Mohsni Rangers looked most threatening through set pieces. With Rangers left back Stevie Smith’s deadly dead ball delivery.
Just 4 minutes before half time Rangers found themselves with a free kick outside the Dundee United half and the Rangers fullback Steven Smith once again showed his class from the dead ball situation and hit into the bottom left of the goal despite a hand from keeper Cierzniak.
At half time Dundee United had looked pretty comfortable, as many suggested their youngsters would freeze on such a big occasion. Rangers did however look threatening when they looped crosses at the flapping goalie Rado Cierzniak.
The first half had proved that both teams had attacking threats in the form of Stuart Armstrong, Fraser Aird, Dean Shields and Nadir Ciftci. Much of the second half seemed as if both teams had started to figure out each over. When United were in possession they looked content to pass the ball about then drive forward when in the wider channels. When Rangers received the ball they desperately drove forward looking for the equaliser.
Around the 60 minute mark Rangers lack of playing quality oppositions took its toile as they ran out of ideas and looked fairly lackadaisical at the back.
The final 10 minutes of the match was extremely open as chances fell for Rangers to equalise and for Dundee United to put themselves into the final. At 83 minutes Dundee United’s left back Andrew Robertson played a long ball into the Rangers box in which Ricky Foster gathered the ball and passed sharply onto stand in goalkeeper Steve Simonsen who failed to clear the ball and Nadir Ciftci pounced after the loose ball, rounded the despairing Simonsen and scored the goal which sent United into the Scottish cup final at Celtic park next month. As soon as the third goal of the match was smashed into the net the fans that famously suggested “they don’t do walking away” were pouring out of the stadium to the sound of United fans singing “you’re not Rangers anymore”. It must have been a sickening sight for any Rangers fan.
After a display where United could have played better and seemingly Rangers put in their best effort it was a fair result for United as they reached their second Scottish cup final in 4 years.
Winning team Player Ratings:
Cierzniak- 7. Nervy first half but made an excellent save from a deflected Rangers set piece.
Wilson-6. Looked slow when up against Aird.
Souttar-7. Lost ball in first few minutes but had a decent game up against big Jon Daly.
Gunning-7.5. Dealt well with Daly. Works well with Souttar.
Robertson- 8. Not his best game but still brilliant work off the ball and few good runs.
Paton- 8. Bossed midfield and stopped many attacks.
Rankin- 7.5. Could tell how much he wanted into the final when he was putting his body in the way of everything. A brilliant leader.
Armstong- 8.5 Played a very good game, produced a few killer balls.
Gauld- 7.5 Not best game but closed down Rangers players very well and great work for second goal.
Mackay-Steven- 7.5. Quiet game but always gave United an extra option in attack.
Ciftci- 7.5. Another not with his best game but will always be known for his celebration before scoring the winner.
Watson-7. Looked stronger and got forward more that Wilson.
Dow- 6.5 Didn’t do a lot but looked pretty good when coming on and gave a new attacking dimension.
Gomis- 6. Not given a lot of time on pitch but good work rate.
Article by Joseph James.
Follow on twitter for Scottish match reviews and player reviews- @josephjamesy00