DaMarcus Beasley saw action for the first time this year for Rangers who defeated Dundee FC in the quarterfinal of the Scottish League Cup at Dens Park.
Beasley started at midfielder and went the first 75 minutes for head coach Walter Smith as Rangers advanced to the semifinal of Scotland's second cup competition.
Fellow American and midfielder Maurice Edu did not take part in Tuesday's match as he continues to recuperate from a torn ligament sustained last May.
Beasley had been languishing on the bench for the first two months of the season after spending the latter part of last season out of action due to a rib injury.
The Indiana native was reminded of the physical nature of Scottish soccer as Rangers' second division foes fouled Beasley three separate times in the first half.
The visitors did get on the scoreboard first with a Steven Whittaker goal in the 15th minute. Whittaker gathered in a pass from 18-year old John Fleck and headed the ball home to give Rangers the lead.
Fleck was one of three teenagers slotted into the starting lineup for the Light Blues by Smith in an effort to give their younger players more match experience.
In the 29th minute, Dundee head coach Jocky Scott saw his squad equalize courtesy of Leigh Griffiths who rocketed a free kick into the top left corner of the net.
Beasley and company regained the lead again in the 57th minute when Dundee's Gary MacKenzie suffered an own goal after Whittaker's pass in the area deflected off the defender and into the net.
Fleck put the match away for 'Gers in the 85th minute when he collected a pass from Nacho Novo just inside the area and blasted a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
The victory sends Rangers to the tournament semifinals which will take place in early February 2010. A draw will be held in the weeks before to determine the semifinal match-ups.
Rangers return to Scottish Premier League action this weekend when they host Dundee United on Sunday. |
Tuesday October 27, 2009
8:13 pm |
Good to see DeMarcus get some playing time.
— The Beagle
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