Sat May 10 14:46:48 2008

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Novo leads Rangers to within one of Celtic

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Glasgow, Scotland (Sports Network) - Nacho Novo scored twice as Rangers topped Dundee United, 3-1, on Saturday in the Scottish Premier League to cut Celtic's lead to one point.

Rangers, which plays Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final Wednesday, has one game in hand on the leaders and will have two after Celtic plays Hibernian on Sunday.

Novo, who converted the final penalty kick in Rangers' semifinal match against Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup, scored in the seventh and 18th minutes. He scored his first goal off a header and converted the second off a volley.

Mark De Vries scored in the 76th for Dundee United but Jean Claude Darcheville secured all three points for Rangers in the 90th minute.

United States national team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who injured his knee in a Champions League match in November, was back on the roster for the first time for Rangers. He did not play.

Chris Porter scored the game winner in the 81st minute to lead Motherwell to a 2-1 win over Aberdeen in Saturday's other match involving top-half clubs.

Also Saturday, Kilmarnock defeated Hearts 2-0, Falkirk edged Inverness 2-1 and St. Mirren tied Gretna 0-0.