Hibernian 2 Rangers 3

24th October 2002
Scottish League Cup
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: Murray, O'Connor.
Rangers: Townsley(o.g.), Cannigia, Lovenkrands.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Thursday 25th October 2002

Hibs' cup hopes peter out

THE status of the CIS Cup and the often-battered reputation of Scottish football were the recipients of a massive boost last night as Hibs and Rangers served up a quite extraordinary and truly memorable third-round tie.

Peter Lovenkrands’ goal 12 minutes from time took holders Rangers into the last eight, but only after they had resisted a sterling Hibs performance which had seen them take an early lead then battle back from a 2-1 deficit.

In a match which had just about everything, Hibs defender Alen Orman suffered an epileptic fit in the first half and his replacement Gary Smith was sent off four minutes from time for booting the ball at Claudio Caniggia in frustration. In and around all of this was terrific football from both teams and a display from Hibs striker Garry O’Connor which could only have impressed the watching Scotland boss Berti Vogts.

Thursday night football on Five, formerly Channel 5, may not have the same kudos as Sky’s Super Sunday , but it was certainly enough to keep many potential customers away from Easter Road and in front of a television screen instead.

While the visitors’ end of the ground was reasonably full, there were gaping spaces elsewhere, most notably in the almost-deserted Famous Five stand.

It was the home support, though, who took the most encouragement from the early developments of a dramatic affair. Craig Moore emerged as the pre-match injury doubt which had been concerning Alex McLeish, and he was replaced in central defence by Bert Konterman. But the pre-match warm-up delivered further complications for the Rangers manager at the back when Lorenzo Amoruso pulled up with a calf strain. Permission was sought and granted for substitute Robert Malcolm to be drafted in at the last minute to start alongside Konterman.

Hibs, unsurprisingly fielding an unchanged side on the back of their recent winning run, looked more coherent in the opening exchanges, quickly putting the makeshift Rangers defence under pressure.

O’Connor, in form and eager to impress against his potential transfer market suitors and the watching Vogts, tested Stefan Klos with what is fast becoming a trademark long-range effort, the German goalkeeper electing to fist the ball to safety.

He was beaten after five minutes, however, by a quite remarkable opening goal for Hibs. There was a touch of comedy about the build-up, Lovenkrands crashing an attempted pass against referee Hugh Dallas before possession was secured by Grant Brebner, who showed fine vision to set O’Connor free down the right. The striker’s low centre across the face of the penalty area was met by Ian Murray, who swept a majestic first-time shot high beyond Klos’s right hand into the roof of the net.

Hibs could not have wished for a brighter start against the cup holders and, although Derek Townsley provided the first evidence of his defensive frailty when he was all-too-easily turned by Ronald de Boer, who shot narrowly wide, the home side were full of confidence and might have doubled their lead when another stinging O’Connor drive was touched behind by the diving Klos.

It was a pivotal moment because, after dealing with the corner kick, Rangers surged forward to claim their 21st-minute equaliser. Fernando Ricksen played in Maurice Ross down the right and the defender’s low cross was sliced into his own net by the hapless Townsley, who appeared distinctly uncomfortable with his central defensive beat.

Townsley provided further, damaging evidence of this three minutes later as Rangers transformed the complexion of the tie with their second goal. Townsley’s weak clearance was pounced on by De Boer, who fed the ball back through the gap left by the defender, allowing Caniggia to race on and clip a cool finish beyond the advancing Nick Colgan.

Hibs were forced to make a change in alarming circumstances just after the half hour, Orman apparently suffering an epileptic fit as he collapsed to the turf, where he was quickly attended to by medical staff of both teams. The Bosnian was replaced by Gary Smith, who slotted into defence, with the blessing for Hibs that Townsley was switched into midfield.

Rangers were forced to make a change of their own before half-time when another of their mystery pre-match injury doubts, Mikel Arteta, was forced to make way for Stephen Hughes.

Having surrendered their early initiative, Hibs redoubled their efforts to retrieve the situation and dominated the opening stages of a second half played at the same invigorating pace as the first.

Mixu Paatelainen, leading the line intelligently, was causing the Rangers defence considerable discomfort, but he drove a prime opportunity wide after being set up by Jarko Wiss.

Townsley then displayed the same level of inefficiency in the opposition penalty area that he had already shown in his own, wastefully heading the ball the wrong side of Klos’s post from no more than four yards after being picked out by Murray. Townsley was finally put out of his misery in 68 minutes when Hibs manager Bobby Williamson replaced him with Tom McManus and went with three up front. The switch paid almost instant dividends.

As the Rangers defence adjusted to the new threat, a through ball broke off Malcolm into the path of O’Connor who steadied himself, dragged the ball onto his left foot and lashed a marvellous low shot beyond Klos into the corner of the net.

Rangers’ response was swift and devastating, the mark of a side who clearly prize their grip on this competition. Caniggia swept the ball to Lovenkrands, who found the space to drive a shot beyond Colgan.

Hibernian: Colgan, Orman (Smith 33), Fenwick, Zambernardi, Murray, Townsley (McManus 68), Brebner, Wiss, James, Paatelainen (Luna 81), O’Connor. Subs not used: Caig, Brown.

Rangers: Klos, Konterman, Malcolm, Numan, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta (Hughes 38), Ross, Caniggia, De Boer, Lovenkrands. Subs not used: McGregor, Mols, Muscat, Dodds.

HOME