Viaplay Cup: Rangers thrash Livingston to hit semi-final
Rangers thrashed Livingston to secure Viaplay Cup semi-final slot Wednesday.
Abdallah Sima capitalised on a positive start, producing a wonderful angled finish after seeming to push Jamie Brandon to initially gain possession. It was controversial but VAR supported referee Willie Collum’s decision to wave play on.
It seemed an inevitable march to Hampden for Michael Beale’s side from there given the intensity and pace of their interplay.
Livingston came close though when Joel Nouble and James Penrice combined to feed Stephen Kelly on the edge of the area. His curling effort sailed just off target.
Luiyi De Lucas then came within a foot of level terms with an excellent header from a corner as a little tension began to build around Ibrox.
Ridvan Yilmaz took the initiative to end that and then some, surging from inside his own half straight at the heart of the visiting defence.
He was unchallenged and single-minded, sending an excellent toe-poke from outside the box, right into the corner to end the tie as contest.
Sima’s pace led to the gloss of a third when his cross struck De Lucas and diverted beyond George before Ryan Jack thumped home into the left corner after a lovely move in added time.
The left-back produced that real stand-out moment to settle the tie and make it a far more comfortable cruise into the next round
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Rangers sought a better level of performance after labouring to their win over Motherwell at the weekend.
They got that from minute one with the passing far slicker, the movement far better and at one stage it looked like a mere formality and case of how many.
Livingston just could not get out or retain possession for any length of time. However, a slight dip in level for a short spell, afforded the visitors some hope and they came very close to levelling.
That hope was quickly extinguished by Yilmaz and Rangers put the seal on it with a third and fourth late on. That will bring confidence.
Four goals and now four wins and four clean sheets in a row. There has been criticism along the way but the performance was encouraging and the outcome deserved.
David Martindale will be frustrated at the opening, encouraged by the moments that brought a glimmer of hope but ultimately will feel a sense of deja vu having seen similar outcome on their last visit to Ibrox.
It felt like a long-shot given they have never won at Ibrox and ultimately that proved to be the case.