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6 months ago
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Fans have ruthlessly mocked Rangers forward Fabio Silva after he fell theatrically in the box under no challenge in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
The striker, on loan from Wolves, had the chance to make it 3-0 in stoppage time when Cyriel Dessers selflessly teed him up just metres from goal - instead of going for a hat-trick.
But Silva raised his arms in the air and took a bizarre tumble despite being under no pressure and having an easy chance to finish, with only a defender on the line.
Ally McCoist offered the possibility that he fell because the ball was played behind him and he got caught up, but fans have been quick to brand him as a diver.
'He’s diving, anticipating contact but no-one was near him. An embarrassment,' one viewer wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Fans have mocked Fabio Silva after he took a theatrical tumble in a Scottish Cup semi-final
Silva, on loan from Wolves, was just metres from goal and went down under no challenge
He has been called an 'embarrassment' for the tumble but Ally McCoist thinks he just lost his footing
'You have to wonder about the mentality of a guy who'd rather dive and cheat than tap the ball into an open goal,' said another cynic.
'Same as what he was doing in the derby two weeks ago! We all know what he was doing!' wrote one.
However, there was a few light-hearted spectators who preferred to take a more amusing perspective on the fall.
Mail Sport's very own Chris Sutton, star of the It's All Kicking Off podcast with Ian Ladyman, was one of them.
'People who say Silva dived here are biased… that’s a penalty,' he joked.
'Stonewall penalty. Should have been a red. The ball was lucky to stay on the pitch,' one comedian quipped.
'Stonewall penalty,' another said.
In the end, Silva's mishap didn't really matter as Rangers reached the Scottish Cup final with a 2-0 win.
It is unclear wheter Silva was diving, somehow thought he was touched, or just got his footing muddled
While Silva took criticism, many commenters - including Mail Sport's Chris Sutton - saw the funny side
Even if they don't scoop up the Scottish Premiership title - a fate looking increasingly likely as they are in poor form and three points behind Celtic with five games left - they will have the chance to get the last laugh over their Glasgow rivals on May 25.
Indeed, Celtic beat Aberdeen 6-5 on penalties after a 3-3 draw to book their place in the final.
Silva's form in Scotland could be some cause for concern.
He joined Wolves from Porto for £35m in 2020 but failed to make an impression and has been sent out on various loans.
He was shipped out on loan to Rangers in January, where he has scored four times in 19 games.
However, he is still only 21 so has plenty of time to become more clinical.
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