Rangers captain James Tavernier scored the decisive goal as the Ibrox side secure the ViaPlay League Cup with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
A scrappy match was settled by a moment of quality from the skipper who showed excellent composure to volley home the winner 15 minutes from time
John Lundstram set the tone for the afternoon with a early crunching tackle which had both sets of fans of their feet. Both the rain and the rivalry contributed to a fiery opening 20 minutes, despite chances being in short supply.
Abdallah Sima found himself in space inside the box just inside the half hour mark, only for his effort to force a smart stop from Kelle Roos.
Rangers had the ball in the net on 39 minutes when Ross McCausland’s low driven effort found it’s way beyond the goalkeeper. However the celebrations were cut short as the referee had already blown for a foul in the area.
McCausland then saw a late header drift just wide from Todd Cantwell’s cross as it remained goalless at the break.
Four minutes into the second period and Rangers had their first opening as John Lundstram saw his strike from the edge of the box go wide of Roos’ goal.
Aberdeen were inches away from opening the scoring when a Nicky Devlin cross flashed across the face of goal with no one in red able to get a decisive touch.
Cyriel Dessers almost had a repeat of his heroics in Seville mid-week, shrugging off Devlin before driving in off the last hand side but his shot was kept out by Aberdeen’s man between the sticks.
Rangers were beginning to turn the screw when Leon Balogun found himself free on the Aberdeen penalty spot before blazing his effort well over the bar.
Moments later and Rangers were ahead through captain James Tavernier. The right back latched on to a back post ball from Borna Barisic before teeing himself up and volleying home to give Philippe Clement’s men the advantage with 15 minutes remaining.
Aberdeen pressed as the game wore on but Tavernier’s goal proved to be the difference as Rangers lift the first silverware of the season.
