James Sands went close to two months in between starts for Scottish Premiership club Rangers, but after making his first start of 2023 on Sunday, the New York City FC loanee played the hero for Michael Beale’s squad.
Sands scored the winning goal for Rangers in a 3-2 Scottish Cup fifth round win over Partick Thistle at Ibrox Stadium. Fellow U.S. men’s national team player Malik Tillman also scored for Rangers, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Kevin Holt’s penalty kick goal in the 35th minute propelled the second-tier visitors in front at Ibrox before a busy second half saw several lead changes. Antonio-Mirko Colak tied the match in the 50th minute before Tillman’s go-ahead goal made it 2-1.
Tillman’s goal started a skirmish between the two clubs after he stole the ball from a Partick defender and went up the field to score. The play occurred when Michael Beale instructed his team to play the ball back to Patrick Thistle following an injury.
It was Sands’ first goal for the club.
Rangers hung on to book its place in the quarterfinals, extending its winning streak to eight matches in all competitions. Up next for Rangers is a league trip to Livingston on Saturday before a Scottish League Cup Finals showdown with rivals Celtic on Feb. 26.