2022 Scottish Challenge Cup final

2022 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event2021–22 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date3 April 2022
VenueExcelsior Stadium, Airdrie
RefereeGrant Irvine
Attendance4,452

The 2022 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the SPFL Trust Trophy final for sponsorship reasons,[1] was a football match that took place on 3 April 2022 between Raith Rovers and Queen of the South.[2] It was the 29th final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the seventh since the SPFL was formed. It was the first final played since 2019, as the 2020 final and the 2020–21 competition were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Route to the final

The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 50 teams from Scotland in 2021–22. In previous years clubs from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have competed,[3][4][5] but the competition was restricted to Scottish clubs in 2021–22 to reduce unnecessary travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Raith Rovers

As a 2020–21 Scottish Championship club, Raith Rovers were given a bye to the second round.

Round Opposition Score
Second round Forfar Athletic (h) 1–0
Third round East Fife (h) 3–1
Quarter-final Inverness Caledonian Thistle (a) 0–0 (a.e.t.)
5–4 (p)
Semi-final Kilmarnock (a) 2–1

Queen of the South

As a 2020–21 Scottish Championship club, Queen of the South were given a bye to the second round.

Round Opposition Score
Second round Broomhill (h) 3–0
Third round Partick Thistle (h) 2–0
Quarter-final Greenock Morton (h) 2–1
Semi-final Cove Rangers (a) 1–0

Match details

Raith Rovers3–1Queen of the South
  • Poplatnik 16', 70'
  • Ross 78'
Report
Attendance: 4,452
Referee: Grant Irvine
Raith Rovers
Queen of the South
GK 1 Jamie MacDonald
RB 2 Reghan Tumilty
CB 4 Frankie Musonda
CB 3 Liam Dick  83'
LB 21 Sean Mackie
RM 7 Aidan Connolly
CM 16 Sam Stanton
CM 8 Ross Matthews
LM 22 Ethan Ross  87'
FW 99 Matej Poplatnik
FW 18 Ethon Varian  56'
Substitutes:
GK 17 Robbie Thomson
DF 5 Christophe Berra
DF 14 David McKay  83'
DF 29 Greig Young
MF 13 Brad Spencer
MF 25 Aaron Arnott  87'
FW 10 Lewis Vaughan
FW 11 Dario Zanatta  56'
Manager:
John McGlynn
GK 1 Josh Rae
RB 3 Alex Cooper
CB 16 Euan East
CB 2 Darragh O'Connor
LB 33 Willie Gibson
RM 8 Josh Todd
CM 6 Harry Cochrane
CM 15 Calvin McGrory
LM 10 Lee Connelly  81'
FW 9 Ally Roy
FW 7 Ruari Paton  81'
Substitutes:
GK 30 Charlie Cowie
DF 13 Josh Debayo
DF 20 Roberto Nditi
DF 29 Matthew Henderson
MF 14 Ben Liddle
MF 18 Kieran McKechnie  81'
FW 17 Niyah Joseph
FW 44 Rúben Soares Júnior  81'
Manager:
Willie Gibson

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

References

  1. ^ "Challenge Cup to be rebranded SPFL Trust Trophy from season 2021/22". The Edinburgh Reporter. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Raith Rovers 3–1 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. ^ "IRN-BRU Cup expanded for 2017/18". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Sutton United & Boreham Wood to enter Irn Bru Scottish Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Northern Irish and Welsh sides to join top flight U20s in Challenge Cup". www.stv.tv/sport. STV. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ^ "SPFL Trust Trophy format & dates". SPFL. Retrieved 20 May 2021.