Rangers' Hopes Dashed as Annan Athletic's Late Strike Secures Upset Victory

Rangers were on track for a comfortable victory against Annan Athletic in their Scottish Cup opener, but the underdogs had other plans. The Ibrox side dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the first half, with Ryan Kent and James Tavernier both testing the Annan goalkeeper. However, it was Annan who struck first, taking advantage of a Rangers’ defensive lapse to score through a goal from an unlikely source - veteran striker Brian Rice’s substitute, Brian’s replacement, Stephen Dowie. The goal came in the 70th minute, and although Rangers pushed hard for an equalizer, they were unable to find the back of the net. Annan’s late strike sent shockwaves through the Ibrox faithful, who could not believe that their side had been outplayed so comprehensively. Despite their best efforts, Rangers were left with a bitter taste in their mouths as Annan celebrated their surprise victory. Scott Miovski’s debut was ultimately cut short by injury but his team’s defeat will be a worrying sign for Rangers manager Steven Gerrard as he prepares to face Celtic next week.