MOTHERWELL stunned Rangers at Hampden Park to set up a Betfred Cup final clash with Celtic thanks to a superb double from star striker Louis Moult.
A second-half brace from the 25-year-old, including a delightful lob to seal the win, gave the Steelmen only their fourth victory over the Gers since the turn of the millennium and ensured Pedro Caixinha is still waiting to record three wins a row as Gers boss.
It was a day to forget for the Portuguese, who was sent to the stands along with counterpart Stephen Robinson following a touchline bust-up in the second half of a fiery cup tie.
Motherwell will now join defending champions Celtic in the final after another underwhelming day for the Light Blues at the national stadium.
Rangers started brightly, creating their first opportunity within the opening minute. Alfredo Morelos headed on Bruno Alves’ long ball and Josh Windass found space to take aim, but his shot sailed harmlessly into the arms of Trevor Carson.
Stephen Robinson’s side looked to hit on the break and threatened for the first time after 13 minutes, when youngster Allan Campbell pinched the ball off Windass before firing an ambitious shot from distance over the bar.
The Gers soon regained control and Morelos threatened to put them in front after ‘Well defender Cedric Kipre failed to deal with another long ball forward, but the Colombian’s snapshot flew past the post.
After an uninspiring opening half hour, the crowd was lifted by a string of chances at either end and some hefty challenges being dished out from both sides.
Windass squandered his second big opportunity of the afternoon on the 33rd minute as Candeias cut the ball back to the former Accrington Stanley man just inside the area. However, the 23-year-old’s composure let him down again as his left-footed shot was drilled into the arms of Carson.
A string of chances at either end saw out the first half, with Chris Cadden’s angled shot being tipped past the post by Jak Alwnick before Gers defender Bruno Alves headed narrowly wide from a corner and Louis Moult’s attempt from distance had Alnwick sprawling as it deflected away from danger.
Motherwell came very close to going in front with five minutes to go until the break. A corner caused chaos in the Light Blues box, with Kipre finding space to fire a point-blank shot towards goal only to see it blocked by Ryan Jack on the goal line, before Peter Hartley’s follow-up attempt was saved by Alnwick.
Rangers then hit on the counter, with Windass leading the charge. He laid off to Candeias, whose curling cross was met on the charge by a diving Declan John header that dropped a yard wide of the target.
The intensity of the match picked up where it left off in the second half, with Pedro Caixinha’s side immediately threatening. A Morelos shot and Pena header both failed to tests the goalkeeper before Windass again failed to finish, prodding a shot from 12 yards straight at Carson.
After weathering the storm, Motherwell took the lead after 52 minutes to send their 9000 travelling fans into euphoria. A corner again caused problems for the Gers defence, with Alnwick failing to deal with Cadden’s high, curling delivery and Hartley heading off the bar from close range. The rebound fell to Moult whose header was denied by Jack on the goal line, but the lethal Steelmen striker was there again to ensure that it was third time lucky as he fired into the roof of the net from close range.
Rangers kept responded with a couple of good chances to level, Candeias firing over from substitute Aaron Nemane’s cutback before a superb delivery from John across the face of goal eluded everyone.
A fiery encounter was enlivened further on the 65th minute when both managers were sent to the stands by referee Steven McLean. Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso was forced off with blood pouring out of his nose after tussling in the air with ‘Well striker Ryan Bowman, who was already on a booking for a similar challenge in the first half.
A furious reaction in both technical areas saw Robinson and Caixihna given their marching orders as the Portuguese stopper retreated down the tunnel to be replaced by Ross McCrorie.
Caixinha’s day soon got worse when a sensational strike from Moult doubled ‘Well’s lead. Charles Dunne regained possession in the middle of the park and lifted a through ball over the defence for the striker to race onto. The Englishman met it first time, side-footing a delightful lob over Alnwick and into the roof of the net to put Robinson’s side in a commanding position with just over 15 minutes remaining.
The fight appeared to leave Rangers after Moult’s second, with Carson denying a Morelos header with five minutes remaining. It was the ‘Well fans who were left making all the noise in the national stadium as they look forward to their first League Cup final in 12 years.
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