Heart of Midlothian 1-3 Rangers: James Tavernier & Scott Wright send Ibrox side into Viaplay Cup final
- Published
Scott Wright scored his first goal since a Scottish Cup final strike against Hearts in 2022
Captain James Tavernier scored twice as Rangers eased past Hearts to book a Viaplay Cup final date against Aberdeen on 17 December.
Winger Scott Wright scored his first goal since the clincher in Rangers' 2022 Scottish Cup final defeat of the Tynecastle side to add to Tavernier's penalty early in the second period, with the captain's free-kick making it 3-0.
There was a riposte from Hearts in the shape of a Lawrence Shankland penalty - awarded after Stephen Kingsley's sending off was overturned - but it was too little, too late.
Instead, the Ibrox side will return to Hampden aiming to end a near 13-year wait to win the Scottish League Cup as both Philippe Clement and Aberdeen's Barry Robson attempt to win their first trophies with their respective clubs.
Having run Rangers close in last week's last-gasp Scottish Premiership defeat at Ibrox, Hearts knew the potential onslaught they would endure at Hampden and the Glasgow side dominated the first half.
Abdallah Sima and Todd Cantwell got in headers, with Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark saving on both occasions.
Rangers began to take control and Cantwell was denied at Clark's left-hand post with an angled shot, then Danilo headed wide at a corner.
The Ibrox side may have wondered if they would follow Hibernian in having the best of the semi-final but not winning.
But they carved the opening after Danilo chased a loose ball and was fouled by Clark just outside the six-yard box. Tavernier found the net with Clark rooted to the spot.
Almost straight away, Hearts threatened for the first time as Jorge Grant's corner was headed goalward by Frankie Kent, only for Jack Butland to save.
And then came Wright's moment. The winger had replaced Cantwell at the break and took Danilo's pass on the right to finish from a similar position to his cup final goal.
Again Hearts came and Stephen Kingsley's curling shot was creeping in until Butland intervened again.
But Tavernier ended the match as a contest with a typically stylish free-kick from the edge of the box.
It was not the last chapter, though. Kingsley went down in the Rangers box following substitute Ben Davies' challenge and appealed for a penalty.
Nick Walsh initially gave the defender a second booking but, on VAR review, the spot-kick was awarded and yellow card rescinded. Shankland denied Butland a clean sheet with a confident kick.
Player of the match - James Tavernier
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Many expected Wright to leave Ibrox this summer and a move to Turkey seemed on the cards. Even when it did not materialise, he was still largely absent from the first team picture under previous boss Michael Beale.
But new manager Clement has re-invigorated the winger and the goal is reward for his recent resurgence and another indicator of the impact the Belgian boss is having.
Hibs had almost exploited weakness in Rangers' defence with long throw-ins in their recent loss at Ibrox.
Hearts went for a similar approach with Alex Cochrane and Kingsley launching the ball in from either side but Rangers' height advantage with Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun told.
At the other end, Hearts needed concentration but they let themselves down by coughing up possession in the sequence that culminated in the penalty.
What they said
Naismith 'disappointed' by Hearts in second half
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "It was a close first half. To lose a penalty so early on in the second half, all the work goes out of the window. I don't have any complaints about the penalty.
"We conceded relatively quickly after it, which is frustrating, and gives you an uphill task to get back into the game and our goal probably came too late.
"If the game was closer, the penalty could have helped us, but giving away three goals so quickly put them out of sight.
"If we could have been better in possession we could have created more chances and it could have been cagier. That was what was frustrating."
'Everyone has been doing maximum to understand story'
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "In the first half, we could have scored a few goals. In the second, when Hearts got tired, we found more spaces, more chances and good goals.
"I'm really happy with it, because I know how hard it is to play a team like Hearts with their qualities, their structure, their resilience. It was an important evening to create but also to not give away too much.
"I've only been here two weeks, but I can see how everyone at the club is doing the right thing. I'm not a guy who looks backwards. I always look forward. That's why I made some changes.
"I know we have a lot of games in a row. I'm really satisfied with getting to the final, but my head is already thinking about Sparta Prague."
What's next?
Rangers face Sparta Prague (20:00 GMT) in Thursday's Europa League tie, then visit Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (12:00). Hearts' next assignment is away to Motherwell in the league on Saturday (15:00).