Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE AND THE GLORY
Great spot from video ref awards Roofe goal as Gers get back to winning ways in Brondby victory
RANGERS’ Europa League campaign burst into life with an ultimately convincing 2-0 win over Brondby at Ibrox.
After opening defeats to Lyon and Sparta Prague, the pressure was on the Scottish champions but they took the lead in the 18th minute when defender Leon Balogun headed his first goal in Light Blue from a James Tavernier corner.
Striker Kemar Roofe added a second on the half-hour mark after his closerange finish was confirmed onside by VAR and although there were no more goals the Scottish champions ran out deserved winners.
Within the first 30 seconds visiting striker Mikael Uhre blazed a shot over the bar to serve warning to the Scottish champions.
The home side slowly got into their stride without being able to test Mikkelsen but they did ask a question with their first effort on target and the keeper failed to come up with an answer.
Captain Tavernier appeared to be targeted with missiles from the
Brondby fans when BRONDBY he went to take Rangers’ first corner but when he flighted the ball into the middle Balogun (above) rose highest to power in a header past the diving Mikkelsen from seven yards. The Light Blues appeared in control and in the 26th minute Brondby striker Andrija Pavlovic cleared the bar from a Uhre cut-back from barely six yards out and within minutes they were two goals down.
Roofe had the ball in the net from close range after Mikkelsen had parried a header from Alfredo Morelos but was initially ruled offside.
Referee Fran Jovic checked VAR and after a long wait, awarded the goal as it was shown Roofe was onside.
Morelos smacked the far post with a 25-yard drive and Mikkelsen save a redirected effort from Roofe before the interval as Rangers finished strongly. Uhre had another great chance within seconds of the restart when Gers defender Borna
Barisic was short with a pass back but he shot past the post with only Allan Mcgregor to beat.
The Govan side stood firm under pressure and at the other end there was a huge penalty claim when Gers’ influential midfielder Joe
Aribo was brought down by defender Sigurd Rosted inside the Brondby box but referee Jovic was unmoved. Arfield soon hit the bar from a Wright cut-back and Sakala got through only to have a shot blocked by Mikkelsen although boss Gerrard would have been pleased enough with the victory.