14 July 2003
The Press, Christchurch
by Jane Marshall
A golden goal to Spanish striker Jacobo Egues sent Rangers soccer fans into raptures, and his team-mates to the Chatham Cup quarter-finals.
Rangers earned a spot in the final eight, beating Roslyn Wakari at Eric Adam Park yesterday with a goal seven minutes into extra time, after the scores were locked 1-1 at 90 minutes.
The Christchurch team last made the Chatham Cup final in 1993, and now has a home meeting with University Mt Wellington on July 20 to push for a semi-final place.
Rangers coach Colin Curry said yesterday's win was a well-deserved, which he felt confident of achieving, despite trailing the visitors 0-1 for 70 minutes of the match.
"The possession we had was great, but we missed several opportunities," Curry said. "But I wasn't even worried after 10 minutes. I still thought we'd win it."
Curry had reason to feel some nerves when Roslyn struck the first blow, against the run of play, from a poor Rangers defensive clearance after just eight minutes.
Ben Lamont's sweet strike from 25m out gave Roslyn a lead it would enjoy for another 70 minutes.
However, it was all the southerners enjoyed, as its possession and chances at goal dried up.
Rangers played with more gusto in the second half, but the home side failed to make use of its scoring opportunities, despite the poor hands of Roslyn keeper Scott Jabvis, who spilled a number of strikes.
In a frenetic final 15 minutes, Rangers upped its tempo again in search of an elusive goal.
It was not until the 81st minute of normal time before Rangers finally found the back of the net, ending a frustrating period of dominance on the field but not on the scoreboard.
Rangers was awarded a corner taken by Chris Peck, whose cross found its target in Paul Hughes, who headed the ball in to force sudden-death extra time.
Egues' golden goal came after his left-wing cross in the seventh minute deceived Jabvis, hit the far post, and went in to the delight of his team-mates.
Rangers 2 (Paul Hughes, Jacobo Egues) Roslyn Wakari 1 (Ben Lamont) . HT: 0-1. Referee: Paul Dalziel.
Other games: Island Bay United 3 Western Suburbs 2, Lower Hutt City 4 Havelock North Wanderers 2.
Rangers v University Mt Wellington, July 20 at 2pm.
