Rangers won a tightly contested Scottish Cup final 3-2 against Queens of the South to win their 32nd trophy since the inception of the tournament in 1874.
Queens of the South started with the same 11 that beat Aberdeen in the last four. Rangers were without the suspended Nacho Novo, and the injured pair of Chris Burke and Steven Naismith
The game, played at Hampden Park for the ninth consecutive time saw Rangers take the lead through Kris Boyd in the 33rd minute. Boyd unleashed a screamer from 22 yards which left opposition keeper Jamie McDonald helpless after Barry Ferguson had teed it up for him. Goal No.24 of the season for Boyd. 1-0 Rangers.
Queens thought they had a penalty when Steven Whittaker appeared to nudge Sean O’Connor in the box, but referee Stuart Dougal waved off the appeal of the final debutants.
Three minutes later, some poor defending from Queens saw Da Marcus Beasley drive one home from 12 yards after a collision between Ryan McCann and Jim Thomson had enabled Carlos Cuellar’s header to fall into the path of the American.
At this stage, one could be forgiven for thinking that Queens were out of it, but they staged a remarkable comeback in the second half.
Sean O’ Connor’s strike was punched home from point blank range by the pelvis bone of Steve Tosh. Stupid as it might sound, that was the way the goal went in.
Jim Thomson levelled proceedings when he rose to meet a Bob Harris freekick in the 53rd minute.
Rangers were starting to look shaky, and it seemed that the stress of playing one game too many in the last few days was beginning to show on the players. Fortunately, Boyd headed home a Da Marcus Beasley corner in the 72nd minute, and that proved to be the winner.
Small consolation for Walter Smith after they lost the SPL to Celtic and the UEFA Cup to Zenit St. Petersburg.
Rangers starting XI- Scottish Cup Final
Neil Alexander
Steven Whittaker
Carlos Cuellar
David Weir
Sasa Papac
Da Marcus Beasley
Barry Ferguson ( C)
Lee McCulloch
Kevin Thomson
Kris Boyd
Jean Claude Darcheville
Substitutes used : Kevin Fleck, Steven Davis.
Queens of the South starting XI- Scottish Cup final
Jamie McDonald
Ryan McCann
Jim Thompson ( C)
Andy Aitken
Robert Harris
Paul Burns
Steve Tosh
Neil MacFarlane
Jamie McQuilken
Stephen Dobbie
Steve O’Connor
Substitutes used :- John O’Neill, Scott Robertston, John Stewart