Rangers 2-0 Hearts (AET): Ibrox side dig deep to win Scottish Cup

Two goals in three extra-time minutes by substitutes Ryan Jack and Scott Wright won Rangers the Scottish Cup against Hearts and eased the pain of their Europa League final defeat.

Hearts’ stood strong in the 90 minutes but did not offer enough in attack, apart from Ellis Simms’ lunging effort off a post after only 10 minutes.

The Rangers end of Hampden celebrated joyfully at the full-time whistle, just three days after their Europa League final journey ended in heartbreak on penalties against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville.

• Reaction & as it happened

Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst made five changes to his team after 120 minutes of energy-sapping football in Spain, and his side again defied suggestions of fatigue as the match wore on.

That was despite this being their 66th match of the season, and the fourth of their last 11 to go to extra-time.

In fact, it was the Ibrox side who finished the stronger. Hearts goalkeeper Gordon pulled off a remarkable stop with his left foot to deny Joe Aribo in stoppage-time, before Wright headed on to the top of the bar with the last chance of normal time.

But Rangers carried the momentum straight into extra-time, as Aribo headed over from point-blank range before Jack took the hardest chance of the afternoon by smashing in off the bar from 20 yards.

The west end of Hampden erupted, and it seemed to rattle Hearts, who stretched themselves immediately in pursuit of an equaliser only to be dealt a decisive blow on the break.

Rangers won the ball on the edge of their own box, and Ryan Kent went streaking up the pitch before playing in Wright, who kept his cool to fire low into the corner past Gordon.

Hearts were bright in the first half but fell deeper into their own territory after the break, and will be left wondering what might had been had Simms turned in Liam Boyce’s cross in from six yards early in the first half.

But it is Rangers who can celebrate ending an eventful the season with a trophy, having lost out on the Premiership title and Europa League.

While the pain of Seville will linger, a first domestic cup since 2011 is something to savour.

More to follow.