Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BUFFALO SOLDIERS
Morelos stars again for Gers as Ibrox men take a well deserved point in Portugal
ALFREDO MORELOS netted his 10th Europa League goal of the season as an impressive Rangers drew 1-1 in Porto.
Morelos levelled a minute before half-time after a brilliant assist from leftback Borna Barisic.
The striker’s Colombia team-mate, Luis Diaz, had given the hosts the lead from long range eight minutes earlier after clinically punishing Ryan Jack’s slack pass during a spell of pressure from the hosts.
But that was a rare period of anxiety for around 3,000 travelling fans, who made their presence felt among the 31,307 crowd in the Estadio do Dragao.
Rangers produced some excellent passing moves and were the more dangerous side after the interval with Morelos being denied in style by the home goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin, although Allan Mcgregor’s late double stop ultimately earned the visitors their fourth point in the group. Rangers shpwed their intent when Barisic got away down the left after a good first-touch move only for his cross to be diverted away from Morelos with Porto stretched.
The Croatian looked less assured defensively in the early stages and was booked for hauling down Jesus Corona but Porto only threatened with a couple of crosses in the opening quarter. Morelos set up James Tavernier with a brilliant switch to find the right-back in yards of space but the captain volleyed well over from 20 yards.
The Colombian soon inadvertently set up a chance at the other end after gifting possession to Moussa Marega, who was stopped by Jack at the expense of a yellow card and free-kick 20 yards out. Alex Telles curled over.
Porto kept up the pressure. Ze Luis headed off the outside of the post from a Telles cross and Brandon Barker got away with a clumsy penalty-box challenge on Corona after being caught out by a short corner with the hosts’ spot-kick claims being waved away.
Rangers could not get out though and Diaz intercepted Jack’s pass and fired into the far top corner from 25 yards.
The visitors’ response was immediate. Pepe cleared well as Barker
attacked Tavernier’s cross and Morelos headed against the crossbar from the resulting corner.
The 22-year-old found his range moments later after Kent’s flick-on found Barisic. The full-back delivered a low first-time cross right into the feet of Morelos, who took a touch and fired high into the net.
Rangers came close to netting from the same source early in the second half. Morelos met another brilliant cross with an emphatic header but Marchesin produced a stunning save.
The visitors began to dominate possession and Mcgregor came to Rangers’ rescue in the 85th minute with saves from Francisco Soares and Shoya Nakajima.