The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Morelos double sends Rangers top of group
Colombian hitman also earns penalty kick in Ibrox clash
RANGERS 3 RAPID VIENNA 1
Alfredo Morelos’ double ensured Rangers marked the return of group stage action to Ibrox with a victory.
The old ground was packed to the rafters as Gers hosted their first European group clash since losing a Champions League showdown with Manchester United in 2010.
And the Light Blues faithful got the result they were longing for as their Colombian hitman struck twice as well as winning the penalty which James Tavernier tucked home to put them on the verge of a deserved win.
Steven Gerrard’s team had fought back to claim an impressive 2-2 draw in their campaign opener with Villarreal and had to battle back again after Veton Berisha had put the Austrians ahead two minutes before half-time.
But having extended their unbeaten run in European contests to 10 under the former Liverpool skipper, Rangers now look in great shape to qualify for the knock-out rounds after moving to the top of Group G with four points.
Left-back Borna Barisic and frontman Kyle Lafferty paid the price for their lacklustre display in Sunday’s shock defeat at Livingston as Jon Flanagan and Ryan Kent came in to the side.
It took 22 minutes for the first chance to come but it fell for the visitors as Andrija Pavlovic glanced wide from a perfect Marvin Potzmann delivery.
It had been a fairly tense opening 43 minutes with chances at a premium, only for the game to burst into life in the final moments before the break.
First Rapid silenced the home faithful with the opener. The ball was cut back for Pavlovic but while Lassana Coulibaly denied the Croatian a strike at goal he sent it to Berisha, who slotted home.
The Light Blues responded with real belief as they hit back immediately.
Kent found Tavernier in space on the right and the skipper’s low cross was on the money for Morelos to slide home.
Rapid keeper Richard Strebinger pulled off a stunning one-handed stop to deny Ovie Ejaria but with five minutes to go Morelos won his side a penalty after racing on to a sublime Ejaria ball.
Tavernier scored and as Rapid pushed on they left themselves exposed and Daniel Candeias’ audacious back-heel released Morelos to net the third.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Worrall, Goldson, Flanagan, Arfield, Coulibaly, Ejaria, Kent (Halliday 90), Morelos (Middleton 90), Candeias. Subs not used: Foderingham, Katic, Barisic, Grezda, Lafferty.
Rapid Vienna: Strebinger, Muldur, Barac (Dibon 33), Sonnleitner, Potzmann , Schwab, Ivan (Alar 58), Murg, Ljubicic, Berisha (Bolingoli Mbombo 72), Pavlovic.