TO RUSSIA... WITH A LEAD
Goldson goal and yet another clean sheet bring Rangers ever closer to group stage
AN advantage will be packed in the hold for the long flight east. True, it may not be quite as sizeable as Steven Gerrard would have ideally wished, but Rangers now know precisely what they must produce in the middle of next week’s 4,600-mile round trip.
For all their dominance of territory and possession, Connor Goldson’s first-half strike was the only reward against a Ufa side bearing a strong streak of stuffiness.
It leaves the Ibrox outfit with one hand extended towards the door of the Europa League group stage. After clean sheets in each of their three previous away qualifiers, a fourth in Russia would see them open it.
That record of resilience should provide confidence, but no one suggests taking that last step forward will be easy. Travelling across four time zones cannot be a cue for any jet-lagged performances in next Thursday’s decisive second leg.
Ufa offered only the briefest glimpses of attacking threat, yet their organisation and defensive discipline was apparent throughout. They will, however, have to ditch the dourness to some extent at home. And, if Gerrard’s men can again hold firm, those spaces on the counter-attack — never available last night — might just provide a path to a potentially tie-killing away goal. The Ibrox manager would surely have accepted this position if on offer when he took charge back on June 1. After a dozen new signings, and ten games unbeaten, they stand within 90 minutes of fulfilling their primary aim in continental football. Seeing it through would give this new regime an early stamp of tangible success.
Goldson’s second goal for the club underscored his emergence as a powerful influence since completing a £3million summer move from Brighton. Gerrard’s latest addition, Kyle Lafferty, made a second-half cameo for a second-time-around debut. There was, however, no chance offered for a goalscoring reintroduction.
He emerged from a bench that also featured former captain Lee Wallace, who remained unused. Embroiled in a disciplinary dispute with the club, the left-back has not played first-team football since last September because of persistent groin problems.
Ninety seconds in and it was the current owner of the armband who was instrumental in the first moment of threat for Rangers.
Toppled by Bojan Jokic, James Tavernier wrapped his right foot around a terrific free-kick that was only half-cleared. Daniel Candeias connected with a looping half-volley at the edge of the area, only to see it tipped over the top by Ufa goalkeeper Alexander Belenov.
The Russians had made their priorities clear by changing half their team for a 3-0 domestic defeat to Dinamo Moscow on Monday. Founded just eight years ago, the chance to establish their name in the Europa League group stage is overriding every other concern. It was a challenge they approached with caution in Glasgow. Sitting deep in a compact 5-3-2 formation, frustrating their hosts was the primary aim. And one in which they were obviously well practised. Chances to break their gameplan were infrequent. Much of the opening period was largely compressed into the space between the halfway line and the Ufa penalty area.
Goldson sought to go more direct with a deep delivery that picked out Alfredo Morelos, whose smart movement had allowed him to peel away from his marker. Ibrox drew breath in anticipation but the Colombian got his connection wrong. Meeting the ball with face as much as forehead, there was insufficient power to trouble Belenov.
For Gerrard’s men, there was a need for patience and increased guile. Tavernier’s right foot is imbued with the latter quality. Another fine free-kick from the right touchline was arced in to Morelos, who was unlucky with a header under pressure.
Then, four minutes from the break, Rangers were rewarded for their graft and persistence. Ryan Kent won a corner which he slung over from the left. Morelos jabbed in a header that Belenov parried, but Goldson reacted first to slot into the net.
A knee-sliding celebration was accompanied by a roar of delight and relief around Ibrox. But that joy actually seemed to break defensive concentration following the restart.
Allan McGregor, magnificent in Maribor seven days previously, had to drag another top-class save from his repertoire to block Dmitry Zhivoglyadov at close range. Ufa maintained their first real spell of pressure until Croatian midfielder Ivan Paurevic spooned over the bar from 18 yards. Gerrard barked in anger from his technical area at these breaches. Ufa coach Sergey Tomarov clutched his hands to his head, likely muttering Russian curses to McGregor.
The second mission for Rangers was clear. Don’t concede. And attempt to at least double their slender lead. Easier said than done against such a defensively disciplined opponent. It took ten minutes after the restart for another clear sight of goal.
Tavernier pushed the ball down the inside-right channel to find Morelos, with Pavel Alikin at his back. A swivel of his hips took the striker clear before he zipped a low strike narrowly past Belenov’s left-hand post.
The Ibrox side had almost all of the ball. Gerrard appealed for a penalty when Alikin sent Candeias up in the air, but the Portuguese winger seemed less convinced he had been fouled.
With 69 minutes on the clock, Lafferty was summoned to replace Candeias. The striker made an impact within four minutes of his introduction. Unfortunately, it was with the head of Veroljub Salatic. A booking for a high foot instantly followed from the referee.
There was a late scare when Paurevic slid in to send the ball wide from close range, but Rangers remained unscathed. Finishing the same way in six days’ time will bring group-stage European football back to Ibrox for the first time in eight years.