Rangers ended a 22-month trophy drought with a 4-0 victory over First Division
Ayr United.
Goals from Tore Andre Flo, captain Barry Ferguson and a Claudio Caniggia brace
were enough to put their names on the CIS Insurance Cup, the first time the
engravers had been called to do so since the Scottish Cup was won in May 2000.
This was Ayr's first major final in their 92-year history but despite the
scoreline Gordon Dalziel's battlers were no makeweights, especially in the first
half.
The two sides could yet meet again in the Scottish Cup final - but only if Ayr
overcome Celtic in the semis next weekend and Rangers beat Partick on their
return to the rutted Hampden Park surface.
Having been thrashed 7-0 by Rangers in a Scottish Cup semi two seasons ago,
the First Division had made avoiding conceding an early goal a priority.
But they were fortunate to escape in only the sixth minute when Fernando
Ricksen played Caniggia into space on the right-hand side of the box. The
Argentinian had wasted a similar opportunity moments earlier but this time his
delivery was perfect for Peter Lovenkrands six yards in front of goal.
But the Dane, who had spurned a match-winning UEFA Cup chance at Feyenoord
earlier in the month, saw his first-time effort parried by goalkeeper Craig
Nelson.
Ayr replied with a pot-shot from Paul Lovering before an error from centre
back Tony Vidmar, another player scarred by bad Rotterdam memories, created an
opportunity for them. The Aussie took his eye of the ball and missed it,
allowing Brian McLaughlin an unimpeded run on goal.
But Vidmar recovered his ground to tackle just as the ex-Celtic man pulled the
trigger.
Ferguson, who had taken a pain-killing injection to play despite his rib
problem, produced a superb chip to put Caniggia in behind the home defence.
The Argentinian's first touch was first class to bring the ball under control
but the second - the shot - was weak and Nelson gathered easily.
That was let-off number two but Ayr were determined it would not be one-way
traffic this time and Ferguson had to make a saving tackle in the box to block a
James Grady effort after Bert Konterman had gifted away possession.
Rangers then had to repel a series of set-pieces before Stefan Klos made a
magnificent save to deny McLaughlin, who had spotted him off his line and
attempted a chip.
It was heading for the net but the back-tracking German stuck out an arm at
the last moment to deny the diminutive striker, only playing because Eddie
Annand was suspended, a memorable opener.
Rangers were roused into action and, following a typically disappointing
Lorenzo Amoruso free-kick, Russell Latapy curled a left-footed effort inches
past a post.
But still Ayr harried their opponents. Pat McGinlay's attempts to win a
penalty were spotted as obviously counterfeit by referee Hugh Dallas but he soon
forced Klos into another top-quality save, this time a tip-over from a
perfectly-struck 30-yarder.
The First Division side could legitimately claim to have had the better of the
first half but they still went in a goal down.
Caniggia was the architect of the 43rd-minute strike with a run at the Ayr
rearguard and when he slipped the ball to Flo the lanky striker, who had hardly
had a kick all game, knew it was the type of chance he thrives on.
He had the time, he had the space and he had no difficulty steering the ball
across Nelson and in off the far post.
It was to be his only significant contribution to the game. Ayr created a good
equalising opportunity within two minutes of the restart but Neil Duffy headed
over from a corner move that saw John Hughes knock the ball back invitingly.
It was a costly miss as within seconds Lovering brought down Latapy, his
former team-mate at Hibernian, at the other end to concede a penalty. Ferguson
sent Nelson the wrong way to convert the spot kick.
Latapy passed up an opportunity to make it 3-0 on the hour when Caniggia
laid the ball back to him eight yards in front of goal only for the Trinidadian
international to balloon it over the bar.
Ayr were a spent force now and were relieved to see Konterman head a Latapy
corner just over. Ferguson curled a free-kick just past a post before Caniggia
wrapped things up with a superb third.
Winger Neil McCann, who had come on for Lovenkrands, supplied a low cross from
the left and the Argentinian's hopes of a World Cup call-up were boosted by the
quality of his finish, steering past Nelson before the ball had bounced.
A winners' medal was McCann's and he was set for another souvenir in the shape
of a black eye when Hughes caught him with his fist as the two tussled.
Lovering prevented another, clearing a Ricksen header off the line after
another substitute, Billy Dodds, had found him unmarked at the back post.
Duffy almost managed the same feat in stoppage time when a Ricksen cross found
Caniggia's head at the far post but referee Dallas ruled the ball had crossed
the line and Ayr were forced to accept a four-goal beating.
Teams:
Ayr: Nelson, Duffy, Hughes, Craig, Robertson, McGinlay,
Wilson (Chaplain 88), Sheerin, Lovering, McLaughlin (Kean 81),
Grady.
Subs Not Used: McEwan, Sharp, Dodds.
Booked: Lovering.
Rangers: Klos, Vidmar (Hughes 74), Amoruso, Konterman, Ricksen,
Latapy (Dodds 77), Ferguson, Numan, Caniggia, Flo,
Lovenkrands (McCann 64).
Subs Not Used: Kanchelskis, McGregor.
Goals: Flo 44, Ferguson 49 pen, Caniggia 75, 90.
Att: 50,076
Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).
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