The 2016 Scottish Cup Final was the 131st final of the Scottish Cup and the final of the 2015âÂÂ16 Scottish Cup, the most prestigious knockout football competition in Scotland. The match took place at Hampden Park on 21 May 2016 and was contested by Scottish Championship teams Rangers and Hibernian. It was the first final to be contested by two teams from outside the top tier of the Scottish football league system. Hibernian ended a run of 114 years from last winning the competition, beating Rangers 3âÂÂ2 with a stoppage time goal from club captain David Gray.
The winners, Hibernian, entered the second qualifying round of the 2016âÂÂ17 UEFA Europa League.
Hibernian started the Scottish Cup in the fourth round as one of the top four placed teams in the 2014âÂÂ15 Scottish Championship. They were drawn away at fellow Championship team Raith Rovers. At Stark's Park, Hibernian won 2âÂÂ0 with goals from Darren McGregor and Dominique Malonga. In the fifth round, they were drawn away against their Edinburgh derby rivals and Premiership club, Heart of Midlothian. Following a 2âÂÂ2 draw at Tynecastle Stadium, Hibernian won the replay at their Easter Road 1âÂÂ0 via a Jason Cummings goal. In the quarter finals they were drawn at home against the Scottish Cup holders, Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Following a 1âÂÂ1 draw, Hibernian won the replay at Caledonian Stadium 2âÂÂ1 due to two goals from Anthony Stokes. In the semi-final at neutral Hampden Park, they were drawn against Premiership Dundee United and progressed to the final after winning 4âÂÂ2 in a penalty shoot out.
Rangers also started the Scottish Cup in the fourth round as one of the top four placed teams in the previous years Scottish Championship. In the fourth round they were drawn against Scottish League One team Cowdenbeath at home. At their Ibrox Stadium, Rangers won 5âÂÂ1 with goals from Lee Wallace, Barrie McKay and a hat-trick from Martyn Waghorn. In the next round they were drawn with Premiership team Kilmarnock. After a 0âÂÂ0 draw at Ibrox Stadium, Rangers won 2âÂÂ1 in the replay at Rugby Park with goals from Waghorn and Nicky Clark. In the quarter finals, Rangers were drawn at home against Premiership Dundee, which they won 4âÂÂ0 with goals from Harry Forrester, Jason Holt, Andy Halliday and Wallace. In the semi-finals, Rangers were drawn against their Old Firm rivals Celtic in only their second meeting since 2012. Rangers progressed to the final winning 5âÂÂ4 on penalties at the end of a 2âÂÂ2 draw after extra time. Rangers entered the final as Scottish Championship winners and Scottish Challenge Cup winners.
The 2016 final marked Hibernian's third appearance in the final in the space of five years, having lost to Hearts in 2012 and Celtic in 2013. These were the most recent of ten finals lost since their last victory in 1902, with the run of 114 years without a repeat being a national record (prior to this, they had also won in 1887 and lost in 1896).
Rangers had played in 51 previous Scottish Cup finals, with 33 wins in the competition. The most recent appearance and victory for Rangers was in 2009, when they defeated Falkirk 1âÂÂ0. This was the first meeting of the clubs in the Scottish Cup since 2008, when Rangers won 1âÂÂ0 at Ibrox in a replay after a goalless draw at Easter Road. Hibernian and Rangers had previously met in one Scottish Cup Final, in 1979. Rangers won the cup that year by winning a second replay by 3âÂÂ2, after the first two matches both finished goalless.
Match rules
At the end of the match, thousands of Hibernian fans spilled out onto the pitch in celebration. An element headed to the other end of the ground to goad Rangers fans, who responded by entering the pitch themselves, leading to fights. Some Rangers players and staff were assaulted by the Hibernian fans as they tried to leave the pitch. The Rangers team received their runners-up medals in the dressing room. The SFA conducted a full investigation into the crowd trouble. The report was published in August and found that neither club was to blame but that the invasion was caused by the Hibs supporters' exuberance at winning the cup. It was pointed out that Rangers supporters had let off fireworks and sung sectarian songs during the match.
The report suggested the possibility of making pitch invasions illegal as they are in England. The aftermath of the final is also notable for the five-minute rendition by Hibs' fans, having returned to the stands, of the club's anthem, the Proclaimers' "Sunshine on Leith".