Motherwell 1-6 Rangers: Sakala nets hat-trick against 10-man hosts

10/31/2021

Motherwell 1-6 Rangers: Fashion Sakala nets hat-trick against 10-man hosts as Steven Gerrard’s side emphatically return to winning ways and extend lead at top of Scottish Premiership to four points

Motherwell took the lead after Bevis Mugabi finished from a very tight angle
But Rangers then levelled after James Tavernier’s superbly controlled volley
They completed a dramatic turnaround before half-time through Fashion Sakala
The Zambian added another in the second half before netting his hat-trick
Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe also netted in a dominant second-half display
Motherwell captain Stephen O’Donnell also saw red for a second yellow card

A Fashion Sakala hat-trick inspired rampant Rangers to a 6-1 comeback win over Motherwell which extended their lead at the top of the cinch Premiership to four points.

It was initially a struggle for the champions at a sodden Fir Park after Well defender Bevis Mugabi opened the scoring in the 13th minute from the tightest of angles.

Rangers huffed and puffed before captain James Tavernier, celebrating his 30th birthday, levelled with a terrific volley in the 43rd minute before crossing for striker Sakala to head the Ibrox men into an interval lead.

Steven Gerrard saw his Rangers side return to winning ways with a 4-1 victory at Motherwell

The hosts took the lead through Bevis Mugabi (right) after his finish from a tight angle

Motherwell (4-3-3): Kelly; O’Donnell, Johansen, Mugabi, McGinley; Slattery (Maguire 82), O’Hara, Goss; Roberts (Lamie 72), Shields (van Veen 65), Watt

Subs not used: Carroll, Woolery, Fox, Grimshaw

Goal: Mugabi 13

Booking: Mugabi

Red card: O’Donnell

Rangers (4-3-3): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun (Simpson 78), Bassey; Kamara, Davis, Arfield; Aribo (Wright 82), Morelos (Roofe 72), Sakala

Subs not used: Lundstram, Hagi, Patterson, McLaughlin

Goals: Tavernier 43, Sakala 45+1, 63, 86, Kamara 75, Roofe 90+1

Bookings: None

Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland)

The Zambia international added a third with a deflected drive in the 63rd minute before Well captain Stephen O’Donnell was dismissed by referee Nick Walsh for a second yellow card tackle which signalled a rout.

Midfielder Glen Kamara drove in a fourth in the 75th minute and Sakala secured his hat-trick with five minutes remaining before Kemar Roofe made it six in added time to take Steven Gerrard’s side four points clear of Old Firm rivals Celtic.

The pressure that was on Rangers following the 2-2 home draw with Aberdeen in midweek was alleviated to an extent by Celtic’s draw at home to Livingston on Saturday and defeats for Hearts and Dundee United.

Looking to take advantage of the chasing pack’s slip-ups, Gerrard returned Allan McGregor to the goal with midfielders Steven Davis and Scott Arfield and Sakala also drafted in.

Gers midfielder Joe Aribo headed past the far post from close range in the sixth minute when he should have done better but from their first effort on goal, Motherwell scored.

Sondre Solhom Johansen’s header following a needlessly conceded corner was parried by McGregor down at his left-hand post and Mugabi, back in the Well side, was first to react, hammering it into the net from an acute angle.

Kelly made a fine save from Aribo in the 29th minute and then tipped a powerful long-range drive from Alfredo Morelos over the bar for a corner which was again defended.

However, the game took a twist in the final two minutes of the half.

Gers’ left-back Calvin Bassey’s cross from the left was met by Tavernier, who volleyed it low past the helpless Kelly and into the far corner of the net.

Then the Ibrox skipper’s perfect cross into the box from the right was headed in by Sakala to give the visitors the interval lead that had looked so unlikely for so long.

But Rangers turned the game on its head at the end of the first half with two quickfire goals

Rangers kept up the pressure in the second half and were rewarded further in the 63rd minute when Sakala’s drive from the edge of the box nicked Motherwell’s Sean Goss and ended up in the net.

It was soon to get more distressing as O’Donnell, booked in the first half for a foul on Sakala, brought down Bassey and took the walk up the tunnel, leaving the Steelmen down to 10 men.

It became a stroll for Rangers in the final stages.

Kamara drove low past Kelly from 25 yards in the 75th minute and 10 minutes later Sakala latched on to a Davis cross to knock the ball past a hesitant Well keeper, who was beaten again in injury time when Roofe, on for Morelos, tapped in from a yard following a Tavernier corner.

Gerrard saw his men take complete control in the second half as they netted three more goals

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