Socceroo nets hat-trick in Scottish cup

SOCCEROOS winger Martin Boyle scored a hat-trick to fire Hibernian to a 3-1 win over Rangers in their Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday.

Boyle’s first-half treble booked Hib’s spot in the final where they will meet Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic at Hampden on 19 December.

Rangers’ first game in the post-Steven Gerrard era ended in defeat, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst set to replace the Liverpool legend in the managerial hot seat at Ibrox.

Boyle, the equal top-scorer in the Scottish Premier League this season, lit up the semi-final, netting three goals in the space of 30 minutes.

“I am a bit dizzy. I’ve just read all my messages from friends and family,” he said post-game.

“It is quite surreal, but the main thing is we are in a Cup final which is fantastic.”

Postecoglou will look to nullify Boyle’s influence in next month’s final as the former Socceroos coach eyes his first piece of silverware as Celtic manager.

The Hoops overcame St. Johnstone 1-0 in Saturday’s semi-final thanks to a second-half goal from James Forrest.

– BY ALEX ZAIA/ SEN