Alfredo Morelos scored a brace to help Rangers produce one of the high-scoring football scores of the weekend in the Scottish Premiership. At Rugby Park, Killie made a great first impression and deservedly took the lead when Stokes headed in a corner from Daniel Armstrong. The hosts’ lead, however, was short-lived as Morelos, who was unmarked, met Fashion Sakala’s low cross at the back post. Soon after the resumption, Kent gave Rangers the lead. On the hour, Morelos added a second goal with a header for Killie, and Daniel Amstrong was dismissed from the game. Joe Wright scored a late goal for the hosts, which ultimately served as a consolation. With the victory, Rangers’ deficit over league-leading Celtic at the top of the standings remains at nine points. Killie slips to 11th, tied with points with Motherwell and Dundee United despite playing one more game.
With six minutes gone in the decisive Premiership match, defender Stokes headed in from a corner for Killie. However, midway through the first half, Rangers’ Colombian striker equalized. After the half, Kent scored before Kilmarnock winger Armstrong received the second of two yellow cards for elbowing left-back Borna Barisic, prompting referee Kevin Clancy to dismiss Armstrong. Home the 73rd minute, Morelos headed in his second goal from a Barisic cross, but Killie responded through defender Wright in the 85th to ensure a tense conclusion.
In his eight games as Rangers manager, Michael Beale has won seven and drawn one. However, it was another uneven effort, and Rangers are still nine points behind unrelenting Celtic at the top of the table after the Hoops defeated St. Mirren 4-0 at Parkhead. In their matchup with the Premier League’s second-worst team, Rangers fans were in for a tougher night than they probably expected. Beale changed up his lineup on a chilly night in Ayrshire after a taxing 2-1 victory over Aberdeen on a draining Hampden Park surface on Sunday by adding goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, Glen Kamara, and Scott Arfield.
With the return of Liam Polworth, Stokes, Ryan Alebiosu, and Christian Doidge, and the home team made four changes, they had Rangers in a headlock early on and rightfully seized the lead. The warning was ignored by Rangers as center-back Ash Taylor headed a corner wide before Stokes used Armstrong’s pass to beat McLaughlin. There were visitors everywhere.
Sam Walker, the Killie goalkeeper, had to dive low to stop a header from Connor Goldson in the 17th minute. At the other end, McLaughlin had to contend with a good curling effort from Armstrong. When attacker Fashion Sakala raced on to a pass from team captain James Tavernier and squared for Morelos to sweep into the net from eight yards, Rangers were able to gain some stability. After a successful counterattack, Kent scored from within the box after receiving a ball from Morelos to give Beale’s team a lead.
Wright, who had just missed a fantastic opportunity by heading wide from 12 yards, was then sent out for a reckless foul on Barisic. Armstrong had already received a booking for tugging back Kent earlier in the game. Morelos leaped six yards from goal to head home a chip from Barisic as Rangers sought to capitalise on their extra man. In the 78th minute, Walker made a solid save to deny the Colombian his hat-trick before the Rangers attacker was changed out for Malik Tillman. After Taylor flicked on an Alan Power cross with five minutes remaining in regulation, Wright volleyed high beyond McLaughlin, causing difficulties for Rangers’ control of the game until three additional minutes had passed.
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