Belfast Telegraph

Morelos at the double to inspire Gers

- BY ANDY NEWPORT

RANGERS WIN 7-3 ON AGGREGATE RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Ojo (Jones, 68 mins), Davis, Goldson, Kamara, Jack (Docherty, 68 mins), Arfield, Flanagan, Morelos (Defoe, 81 mins), Katic. Unused subs: Helander, Foderingha­m, Aribo, Barisic.

MIDTJYLLAN­D: Hansen, Andersson, Kaba (Dovbyk 82 mins), Nicolaisen, Scholz, Ari, Sviatchenk­o, Wikheim, Anderson (Sparv, 69 mins), Ogochukwu Onyeka, Cajuste (Mabil, 46 mins). Unused subs: Okosun, James, Ottesen, Dyhr.

Referee: Marco di Bello (Italy)

Man of the match: Alfredo Morelos Match rating: 7/10 RANGERS made the minimum fuss of in completing in the job against FC Midtjyllan­d as they cruised into the Europa League play-offs with a 3-1 Ibrox win.

Steven Gerrard had warned his team to beware of the Danes after seeing Celtic get sucker-punched out of the Champions League by Cluj on Tuesday night.

But the Light Blues made sure to kill the tie early as two goals from Alfredo Morelos either side of a Sheyi Ojo strike sealed a 7-3 aggregate triumph.

The only blot on the night came late on as Evander Da Silva Ferreira was allowed to pull one back for the Wolves.

But it was a display that would have impressed Andy King — watching from the directors box as he waits to seal his loan switch from Leicester — and now sets up a showdown with Legia Warsaw of Poland as Gers look to qualify for the group stage for the second year running.

The visitors’ prospects might have brightened considerab­ly had Mikael Anderson found the corner of Allan McGregor’s net with barely two minutes gone.

He flashed wide but it was a reminder for Rangers that the tie was not yet put to bed.

Thankfully for Gers, there was no doubting their place in the next round by the 14th minute as Morelos fired the opener.

Former Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenk­o was left looking like he was running through sand as Ojo galloped onto Scott Arfield’s ball down the line.

As the winger looked up, he could see Morelos wrestling for space with Rasmus Nicolaisen. It was the Colombian who won that battle of wills before showing his composure as he sidesteppe­d the defender to ram past Jesper Hansen.

Morelos and Ojo then swapped roles as number two arrived six minutes before the break.

Arfield’s sheer tenacity took him past two Danish players before he dived in against Alexander Scholz as he refused to give up the ball. It was a clean tackle and he was soon up to spray wide to Morelos.

A poor first touch denied Gers’ top-scorer another strike at goal but he recovered to find Ojo in the six yard box, with the Liverpool

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 ??  ?? On target: Alfredo Morelos opens the scoring and (right) Sheyi Ojo (centre) celebrates netting his side’s second goal
On target: Alfredo Morelos opens the scoring and (right) Sheyi Ojo (centre) celebrates netting his side’s second goal

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