If there's one thing I've learned from watching the Rangers in Europe over the last 12 months, it's that they expect them to do things the hard way. is doing
Nonetheless, they brought fans to the brink of a nervous breakdown in this match, entering the kind of spectacular home win that became their trademark last season's epic Europa League match against Sevilla. . After last week's disastrous defeat to Belgium, their Champions League hopes were put to rest until James' Tavernier scored a penalty near the end of the first half, reigniting an old flame inside Ibrox. I was at a loss.
Antonio Colak once again set the scene for an exciting Euro night when he scored a second in less than an hour. And Malik Tillman obliged by scoring his third goal at home to spare a packed home another 30 minutes of excruciating angst. All in all it was a perfect response and result. Given the nature of the performance,Giovanni Huang[14] even if his Bronckhorst[14] was head over heels at times, what ultimately mattered was his player getting out of his £40m hole. That was all.
His team selection seemed like the manager was still looking for the strongest XI. And perhaps even those who have trouble seeing the forest for the trees.Saturday's Man of the Match, Steve Davis returned to the bench, making way for Scott Arfield. New signings Tom Lawrence, Tillman and Korac were brought in from the start, while Ryan Kent returned from the treatment room to fill the left wing position. Alfredo Morelos, meanwhile, had to settle for a seat on the bench.
And perhaps most concerningly, the wobbly axis of error between James Sands and Borna his Barisic was what was exposed in Game 1, on the left side of Dutchman's back four. It is resurrection. It was enough for Rangers fans to enjoy this weekday routine last season and give them a nervous bite on their way home at night under the lights. Adopted the same XI that ruthlessly turned the Rangers upside down. No tinkering required. Still, this started in much the same way as last week's draw, with the Rangers stacked up front and the Belgians defending deep and in numbers.
When they broke out for the first time, the alert Suns successfully wiped out Dante Van Zeil's forward his burst. However, the rest of the time it was a one-way street. Tillman missed his first big chance when he got to the edge of Lawrence's corner, which he drove, but went over the top. In the eighth minute, Cholak, who crouched at a Tavernier free-kick and tried to clear the bar, came even closer.
These early exchanges were encouraging, however, especially with Kent's daring presence causing serious unrest in the Union defense. And as the pressure increased, the volume started to rise. All the Rangers needed now was the goal of removing the roof from the old site.
But just when the stage seemed perfectly set, the home team began to stutter and fluff their lines. Tensions rose as the early attack ceased, and the mood darkened further when the Suns unnecessarily conceded a corner kick and Siebe van der Heiden headed in with a header.
In the 27th minute, Korac was troubled by Lawrence's shot and nearly revived the field, but his Union keeper Anthony Morris made a stunning one-handed stop for Croatia. Reversed a man's shot. A long night was beginning to form as the Belgians manned the barricades. Lawrence tried his luck after half an hour, but his shot from distance turned outside Morris' left post.
The Suns were cautioned just after Lazar his Amani's blatant body check, and to make matters worse, a penalty was given to the Belgian when Tillman swept the white shirt on the edge of the goal. He was an inch or two away from giving. box. But then, in even more desperate trouble, a penalty was awarded out of nowhere in the dying seconds of the half, just as Rangers seemed to come no farther forward.
There appeared to be little danger when Barisic fired a cross of hope into the box, but Juan Heiden threw out his left arm in terror, throwing it out. I had no choice but to point to the place. Tavernier stepped up and, of course he did, but shot from the goalkeeper's left post.
Still, the Rangers came out in the second half, with the Suns and Conor his Goldson taking turns stealing the ball and tripping over their own mistakes. Momentum was lost with each unnecessary error until the Rangers felt like they were back to square one.
But the more Kent got involved, the more the Rangers started to spark, and when the Belgian started to creak, the superior Lawrence strode forward, heading for Tavernier on the back post. A probe set up a big breakthrough moment.
The skipper eased the cutback and Arfield caught the ball for the first time. His shot was blocked by Morris, but Korac was the first to react and he homered from two yards.
The familiar pandemonium erupted here and there, and for the first time in this game it felt as if the Rangers were finally back on European footsteps. A great scare then ensued when the referee awarded a free kick when the Suns put in a perfectly timed tackle on Van Zea, digging into his pocket to dig out a second yellow card.
It was due to the intervention of the linesman that the decision was correctly overturned.
In the 78th minute, Barisic made another deep cross for him before Tillman rose above a fluttering Morris and headed into the empty net.
And this unlikely mission was finally completed when Amani was sent off for his second yellow.
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