Rangers in cruise control despite stalling Hosts make up for lost time after delayed start
FIRST-HALF goals from Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi and Joe Aribo ensured that Rangers cruised to a third consecutive pre-season friendly triumph at Ibrox last night in a match that was delayed by two hours.
The meeting between the two Premiership rivals had been scheduled to get underway at 6pm – but kick-off was put back due to Covid-19 test results not arriving in time.
The hold-up, which would have led to a £5,000 fine if it had happened in an SPFL match, didn’t affect the home team in the slightest when the action finally commenced.
Steven Gerrard’s side netted through Kent and Hagi early on then Aribo scored a typically outrageous individual effort just before half-time. A Ricki Lamie own goal in the second-half completed the scoring.
After their wins over Lyon and Nice in the Veolia Trophy in France last week, the convincing performance and emphatic result will further bolster Rangers’ confidence ahead of the start of the new league season on Saturday week.
Rangers forward Alfredo
Morelos gave the visitors a taste of what was to come in the fifth minute when he tried his luck from the edge of the penalty box. Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson, though, dealt with his ambitious attempt comfortably.
Morelos promptly gave the ball away to Christopher Long shortly after that with a loose ball into the middle of the park – a lapse which had his manager Gerrard holding his head in his hands. Fortunately for the striker, his rival’s effort was wide of target.
The Colombian atoned for his lapse in concentration moments later when he helped to set up the opener. He hooked the ball into the Motherwell area and Allan Campbell’s poor headed clearance fell straight to Kent. The winger’s first time volley was wellstruck and left Carson with no chance.
Hagi, who had netted the
2-0 triumph over Lyon in the Veolia Trophy in France last week, quickly added a second after meeting a curling Borna Barisic delivery with a perfectly-weighted header.
The Romanian, the £3m acquisition from Belgian club Genk this summer, was involved in all of the Glasgow club’s best passages of play. He had a strong penalty claim turned down and got another shot on target.
Aribo added to his side’s tally just before half-time with a wonderful individual effort. He played one-twos with first