Duncan's own goal keeps cup at Ibrox, by Ian Paul
Hibernian 2, Rangers 3 (after extra time)
Rangers collected the Scottish Cup after a final that threatened to become the Evita of football. Five-and-a-half hours of Hampden action were needed to decide the 1979 winners, but if the first two games were forgettable the two teams more than made amends last night.
From start to finish it was a second replay of bewildering fortunes, with penalty dramas, skills, and at last, goals.
Hibs, who were unquestionably the better side in the first half, looked odds-on after Higgins put them ahead in 16 minutes, but Derek Johnstone equalised before the interval.
Rangers, much superior in the second half, looked a good thing when Johnstone put them in front after 61 minutes but Hibs came back with a penalty equaliser 13 minutes from the end by MacLeod.
And so it was once again into overtime with Rangers missing a penalty before the winner at long, long last arrived.
Arthur Duncan unhappily went on to the score sheet when heading past his 'keeper after 319 minutes of deadlock.
Rangers now go into the Cup-winners' Cup. Hibs go back to the drawing board. It was that kind of night.
Yet the Edinburgh side played better football in the first half than had been seen in all of the previous 210 minutes.
With MacLeod electing to play to form this time, they dominated the midfield and some of their build-up was delightful.
The action, despite the pouring rain and sparce terracings, was entertaining and in 15 minutes MacDonald hit a fierce shot which cannoned off the Hibs' defence -- and promptly set up the first goal.
Duncan began the move, continued by a neat Rae-Campbell one-two before Rae's shot, by no means hard hit, was weakly palmed aside by McCloy. Higgins, standing close, had an easy chance to tap home.
Derek Parlane was booked for a foul on Stewart as Rangers struggled to contain a cocky looking Easter Road side.
By now Rangers had pushed Derek Johnstone forward -- and before the interval that predictable move paid off with the equaliser. McLean made ground and as the Hibs defence retreated released a low shot which, although not powerfully struck, was tentatively palmed out by McArthur to Johnstone, who knocked it home.
Rangers' second goal seemed inevitable and when it arrived in 61 minutes it was worth seeing. Russell's knee-high cross from the right was brilliantly side-footed into the net by Johnstone.
There was no doubt that the Ibrox team were on top. This was further illustrated by the booking of McNamara for a foul on Parlane and again when Steve Brown came on for Callachan.
With 15 minutes left, Nibs used their second substitute, Bobby Hutchinson for Higgins, a move that paid off two minutes later with a penalty equaliser.
It was given when the substitute fell as Jackson slide-tackled from behind. Referee Ian Foote seemed to deliberate for some time before pointing to the spot, a decision which looked harsh.
Ally MacLeod was quite content, nevertheless, to smack home the spot kick.
That left both teams battling on to extra time -- and more drama. In the 103rd minute Rangers missed a penalty, a very soft award when Parlane fell as Duncan tackled.
Alex Miller's spot kick was brilliantly pushed away by McArthur.
Johnstone had the ball in the net but was offside before Rangers gained the advantage again after 109 minutes. Cooper's cross was inadvertently headed past McArthur by Arthur Duncan as Gordon Smith challenged.
HIBERNIAN -- McArthur, Brazil, Duncan, Bremner, Stewart, McNamara, Rae, MacLeod, Campbell, Callachan, Higgins. Substitutes -- Hutchinson, Brown.
RANGERS -- McCloy, Jardine, Dawson, Johnston, Jackson, Watson, McLean, Russell, Parlane, MacDonald, Cooper. Substitutes -- Miller, Smith.
Referee -- I. M. D. Foote (Glasgow).
Glasgow Herald, May 29, 1979, page 2.
Footnote: Evita had been playing at the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End for 11 months at this point. It didn't close until 1986. Ian Paul's remark in the lede is an indication that people in 1979 had not yet got their heads around the idea of a show that never ends.
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