After a contentious Scottish Cup round of 16 match against Partick Thistle, defending champions Rangers eventually defeated them.
After the guests claimed that Malik Tillman’s goal had been scored in an unsportsmanlike manner, the hosts allowed Thistle to tie the game at 2-2 through Scott Tiffoney.
After a VAR check, Kevin Holt’s penalty gave the home team the lead, but Antonio Colak’s goal for Rangers tied the score.
At 1-1, James Tavernier’s contested penalty was saved, and James Sands’ header finally won the game on the 86th minute.
But because he appeared to touch it, Connor McAvoy might be given credit for an own goal.
Ayr United, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Raith Rovers, Darvel or Falkirk are the other teams Rangers will face in the quarterfinal draw on Monday.
Response and what occurred
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Early on, Tillman and Holt engaged in a scuffle on the very edge of the Rangers penalty area, giving the hosts cause for concern. However, referee David Munro gave the 2,500 traveling Thistle fans little encouragement.
With a focused defensive strategy and a commitment to deny their opponents any breathing room, Thistle managed to hold their own. Allan McGregor had to make an even greater save to stop Tiffoney from scoring after Kyle Turner won the free-kick and took it.
But after the game, the visitors received their penalty kick. Colak’s handling of Holt’s header was questioned by Munro, and the referee signaled a penalty. Holt converted with assurance.
The Jags had been fed and watered by the Rangers’ narrow style and their hurried passing strategy. At halftime, Ibrox manager Michael Beale made a change by substituting Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe for Hagi and Todd Cantwell. And the prize came very immediately. Roofe was put through by Kent and his shot was just wide.
When Nicolas Raskin chipped the ball from the inside right channel for Colak to nod in at Jamie Sneddon’s close post, the leveler certainly came. Since his last goal on October 29, the Croatian had gone nine games without scoring.
The goalkeeper might have performed better with that shot, but he stood up bravely to stop Colak’s second attempt and stamped himself once more at Rangers’ penalty.
Stuart Bannigan, who was sure that the foul occurred outside of the box, dragged Tillman to the ground. The trophy was still in place, but Sneddon also kept his position in the middle to block Tavernier’s penalty kick.
But then came another mind-blowing turn. Tillman after a knock, Rangers put the ball out, and after the restart, Tillman robbed Holt and escaped pursuing defenders and Sneddon to score. Thistle were enraged because they believed the Rangers attacker had intercepted their attempt to kick the ball to the home defense.
On the field, a brawl broke out, and Beale was busy in his technical area. Tiffoney passed through unimpeded to round McGregor and score.
The winning goal came from a Borna Barisic corner, but chaos ruled once more. When the net bulged, Sands rushed himself at the ball and rejoiced, but replays appeared to show that McAvoy may have carried the ball across the goal line.
The final significant event of an exciting Scottish Cup match saw Tillman dance away from a number of challenges only to be thwarted by Sneddon in extra time.
