Rangers Stun Falkirk with Nine-Goal Thriller to Keep Pressure on Hearts

Rangers staged an impressive comeback against Falkirk, staying firmly in contention for the Scottish Premiership title with just five games remaining. After starting the day in third place following wins by Hearts and Celtic on Saturday, Danny Röhl's team seemed to be in an even more precarious position when Ben Broggio and Finn Yeats gave Falkirk a 2-0 lead. However, Tochi Chukwanui's goal before halftime sparked a turnaround, and a blistering start to the second half saw Rangers take a 3-2 lead courtesy of goals from Youssef Chermiti and Nico Raskin. The tempo had shifted in Rangers' favor, with Bojan Miovski adding a fourth goal before Falkirk's Calvin Miller narrowed the gap to 4-3 from the penalty spot after James Tavernier fouled Filip Lissah. But Rangers' title aspirations were underscored as both Miovski and Chermiti scored again, putting the game out of Falkirk's reach. This result propelled Rangers back into second place, just a point behind leaders Hearts, with Celtic two points further back. Previously, the top three teams in the Premiership had all won on the same weekend only once, a record Rangers were keen to maintain. Chukwuani's contentious goal just before halftime ignited the comeback. The home team had appeared to pause in anticipation of a goal kick after Raskin's cross sailed over the goalmouth, but the ball landed on Djeidi Gassama's head, whose header hit the post before Chukwuani converted the rebound. Röhl's decision to introduce Bojan Miovski for Mikey Moore at halftime proved pivotal. With Gassama moved to the left, he won the ball on the edge of the Falkirk box, and his low cross was flicked home by Chermiti, who later missed a chance to put his team ahead. Rangers posed a greater threat and took the lead in the 52nd minute when Raskin ran around the outside of Aasgaard and hit the Norwegian's pass first time into the far corner. After Chermiti missed another chance, Raskin set up Miovski to bundle home with a cross from the left. Falkirk were given a lifeline in the 70th minute when Miller scored from the spot after Tavernier brought down Filip Lissah. However, Raskin was involved again as Rangers restored their two-goal cushion, surging forward before Chermiti scored after Gassama's shot was blocked. Raskin, who had earlier escaped yellow cards for a clear pull and embracing Rangers fans after his goal, was eventually booked for a clash with Dylan Tait. Miovski sealed the scoring two minutes from time, converting Oliver Antman's low cross from close range. In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Rangers head coach Danny Röhl stated: "Our start was not ideal, and we struggled in the first 10-15 minutes with the pitch. "However, the reaction was outstanding. We focused on our job and the spirit is great, with a strong connection between our supporters and the team. "We are one team now, and this is fantastic. "Looking back, I was in a similar situation here in Falkirk four or five months ago, and today's result shows the direction the club is heading, and we must keep believing what the supporters told us and continue in this manner." For the latest sports news, videos, features, analysis, and more, follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp. Participate in Super 6 for a chance to win £250k by entering for free.