A DELIGHTFUL SCANDI DRAMA
Four-goal Rangers survive a couple of plot twists as they punish Danish rivals
RANGERS can now claim to have added their own edition to the growing catalogue of acclaimed Scandinavian dramas that have been thrilling audiences in recent years.
You couldn’t take your eyes off this one. Not for a second. By the end of a wonderfully breathless 90 minutes, packed full of plot twists, delightful performances and emotional outbursts, Steven Gerrard’s side were left with a clear view of the Europa League play-off round.
The credits have yet to roll, of course. Gerrard was clear about that afterwards. A second leg at Ibrox next Thursday evening must still be negotiated. And the manager wants a capacity crowd to roar his team home.
But if they can replicate the attacking artistry shown inside the MCH Arena then they might just cross the line with a swagger.
Stylish goals from Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo and Nikola Katic, each with their own different technical merits, had FC Midtjylland reeling by the 56th minute. This emerging Danish force appeared to have been quelled. At least until Frank Onyeka and Sory Kaba hit back with a double response that threatened to change the narrative.
At that point, Rangers stood at a crossroads. Either wilt and suffer the psychological torment of blowing a three-goal lead — or regroup and go again with purpose.
They chose the latter option. A fourth away strike, this time wonderfully executed by Scott Arfield, set the seal on a success that stands in the upper category of those yet achieved by Gerrard over two seasons of involvement in the Europa League.
Manchester United and Southampton have lost here in recent years, so there was never any sense of a visit to Herning being an easy assignment. Bar that brief and potentially costly blip, however, Rangers coped with it admirably. They will move on to Sunday’s Premiership encounter with Hibernian in ebullient mood.
Perhaps FC Midtjylland coach Kenneth Andersen wasn’t playing mind games pre-match after all when he claimed the Ibrox outfit should be viewed as favourites to progress. That is now a very sincere assessment of where this tie stands.
For Gerrard, last night’s team selection was akin to a balancing act. The right personnel to try to combat Midtjylland’s expertise from set-pieces had to be combined with a potent threat of Rangers’ own.
The result was four changes from the opening Premiership win at Kilmarnock, with perhaps the most significant coming at left-back where Jon Flanagan was summoned for a first start of the campaign.
Meeting the sheer physicality of Midtjylland was a prerequisite. Other than the graceful figure of Brazilian midfielder Evander, this is a team of imposing stature.
Rangers more than held their own in the key contests during the first period. As it was, however, the little bit of extra precision needed for genuine incision only arrived two minutes before the break.
What a perfect combination it was. Consistently pressing forward on the right flank, James Tavernier collected the ball tight to the touchline and slung in a glorious delivery that arced its way to the edge of the six-yard box.
Morelos had gambled on his captain providing. The Colombian’s movement was ideally timed to force his way between despairing Midtjylland defenders and finish with a header beyond Jesper Hansen.
Morelos ended his celebration routine with his hands making a heart shape right in front of a television camera. The 600 or so Rangers fans in the official travelling support — located just to the side of Hansen’s goal — weren’t slow in vocally reciprocating the love as they celebrated a breakthrough.
You could argue it had been coming. In the seven minutes before, Jordan Jones — whom Gerrard feels has now ‘arrived’ as a Rangers player after an impressive showing — had weaved away from Onyeka and Jens-Lys Cajuste before hitting a cross too deep for Arfield. Then Arfield drilled one across the face of the goal that Morelos narrowly failed to meet at the near post. Getting down the sides always looked the route most likely to profit.
Rangers were turning in a composed, professional display.
But that didn’t mean they were devoid of concern. As expected, Midtjylland’s set-pieces signalled danger.
Long throws were the primary threat. The Ibrox defence struggled to clear one before Alexander Scholz slashed high and wide off his left. Then another was kept alive by some aerial pinball before £2.5million striker Kaba’s attempt to hook into the net was blocked at close quarters by the spreading figure of Allan McGregor.
The Rangers No 1 also had to produce some evasive action when Katic couldn’t connect with a clearance on a devilish ball into the area from the gifted Evander. But it was far from a bombardment. Gerrard knew a similar second half would suit just fine. What initially unfolded was far better than he dared imagine.
A second goal arrived in terrific style seven minutes after the restart. Jones was the architect, shrugging off Tim Sparv in central midfield before breaking forward at pace. The Northern Ireland winger dabbed the ball left to the supporting Aribo, who steadied himself before firing a terrific angled drive across Hansen and into the far corner of the net.
Four minutes later, it was 3-0. Hansen had to tip over a looping Jones cross, leading to a corner that Rangers managed to keep alive. Morelos shaped to shoot before laying off for Katic to produce a lovely low finish that would have generated pride in his striking colleague.
Tie over? It seemed that way. At least until Midtjylland responded with two rapid goals that had Gerrard briefly grimacing.
First, Onyeka captured a cross with a touch that somehow bought him space. Evading resistance, he was able to swivel and poke a shot beyond McGregor.
By the time the 64th minute was reached, Rangers’ advantage was down to one. It was too easy for Midtjylland to work the ball across the pitch from the left, with Evander setting up Kaba. Making his first start for the club, the Guinean lashed home from the fringe of the penalty area.
The home fans echoed the belief suddenly being shown by their team. Rangers had to puncture it again — and they did so within six minutes. Again, there was plenty
to admire in both the construction and execution. Tavernier eliminated Joel Andersson with a slide-rule pass that sent Morelos darting towards the touchline. His cutback was inch-perfect for Arfield. A touch to flick up off his left boot was followed by a sweetly disguised finish from his right.
A flurry of yellow cards followed in the closing stages, but Rangers retained their cool where it mattered most in this compelling episode.