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« on: March 20, 2005, 01:32:07 PM »
marvin did miss the final to day i feel kinda bad for him but i sure i coulda play with one foot and rangers woulda still win
Rangers crushed Motherwell 5-1 at Hampden Park to lift the first silverware of the season - the CIS Insurance Cup.
Giant Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos had the most eventful afternoon by heading two of the goals in a game that also featured a rare opener from Maurice Ross and goals from more regular net-finders Fernando Ricksen and Nacho Novo.
Well had looked losers from the off after falling two goals behind within 10 minutes but although David Partridge headed them back into the game three minutes later it was not to be a lifeline.
There was simply no hiding place for Well's less-experienced players on the expansive Hampden pitch but at least they had fared better than Dundee United, who had been thrashed 7-1 there in the semi-final.
The first strike, in the fourth minute, came from a most unexpected source however as Ross, who was only in the side because Alan Hutton had broken his leg the previous month, rarely finds the net.
He did so with aplomb however, first by timing a run into the box to meet Thomas Buffel's pass and then by lofting the ball over the advancing Gordon Marshall.
With his 41st birthday fast approaching, Marshall became the oldest man ever to play in a League Cup final but his luck was again missing in the ninth minute when team-mate Phil O'Donnell managed to head Barry Ferguson's free-kick over him when he had looked set to catch.
And that was just perfect for Kyrgiakos who headed into an unguarded net.
The Greek was doubly at fault three minutes later however as Well provided an instant response. First he pulled Kevin McBride back by the shirt and then failed to prevent Partridge from heading Steven Hammell's free-kick past Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus.
The next goal was always going to be significant and Ricksen was the man who provided it in the 33rd minute when his free-kick from some 30 yards out beat Marshall at his near post, with Stephen Craigan having been booked for fouling Buffel in the first place.
Well had a lucky escape before the break when Kyrgiakos was once again located at the back post, this time by Gregory Vignal's free-kick, and Marshall was again helpless as the ball flashed across his box. There was nothing between Novo and an empty net but fortunately for Well the ball eluded his outstretched leg.
Neither side decided to make changes after the break but Well boss Terry Butcher might have wished he had as Novo made it 4-1 within three minutes.
Vignal poked the ball forward for him to chase and Partridge will have realised straight away he was never going to catch the Spaniard, who lofted the ball over Marshall with ease.
Not long after, the veteran showed his age when he allowed Ricksen to poke the ball on to the crossbar as he dithered gathering a cut-back from Dado Prso, but Well were able to draw breath as Ross' initial delivery had gone out of play.
O'Donnell was booked for a foul on Vignal before Well made a double change in the 65th minute, with Richie Foran and Jim Paterson replaced by teenage duo David Clarkson and Marc Fitzpatrick.
Novo had a goal ruled out for offside after he had rounded Marshall, with the decision to flag him on receipt of Prso's pass firmly in the marginal category.
Referee Mike McCurry had enjoyed a fairly straightforward afternoon but was required to pass judgement on an incident in the Rangers box that saw Craigan go down clutching his face as Kyrgiakos raised a hand.
He decided to take no action and O'Donnell headed over from the free-kick that had already been awarded.
Ross blasted over a good chance to notch another improbable strike before Fitzpatrick was booked in the 75th minute for felling Ricksen.
With the game won Rangers sent on Alex Rae for Vignal with 11 minutes remaining and two minutes later Ferguson and Martyn Corrigan were both shown yellow cards following a flare-up.
Rangers sent on Steven Thompson for Novo before Kyrgiakos made it 5-1 with four minutes remaining, charging in unchallenged to head a Ricksen corner in off a post.
The game had also doubled as a tribute to Davie Cooper, the winger who had played for both clubs before suffering a fatal brain haemorrhage 10 years ago at the age of 39.
And it was the club where he had spent the majority of his career who were able to rack up a 24th success in this competition, with Well unable to add to the single victory they had enjoyed back in the 1950-51 season
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