WEE ANGE’S BIG STRIKE
Red Bull star’s late wonder goal a hammer blow for Gio but final still within reach for Rangers
IGNORE the hype was Gio van Bronckhorst’s pre-match message.
But it’s doubtful even the loss of a sickening late goal will deflate Rangers’ belief that they can salvage this tie and set up a Europa League date with destiny.
For 85 minutes it appeared the Ibrox side would be heading back to Glasgow neck and neck with Leipzig and full of expectation they could get the job done next Thursday with the help of their famous, frenzied support.
Angelino’s late strike was a setback they could have done without.
But having gone toe-to-toe with the big-spending Bundesliga outfit in their own backyard, no one can blame the Scottish champs for holding the faith they can still turn this around on another special night in Govan.
Red Bull’s millions gave Leipzig the wings to rocket up through Germany’s lower leagues but one goal next week will have Rangers believing they can soar towards Seville. ‘Make us Dream’ implored the fans in a huge banner draped across the Broomloan Road end before their breathless extra-time win over Braga in the last eight.
The dream is still very much on and the May 18 final within reach.
They will have to offer more attacking intent having only troubled Peter Gulacsi’s goal last night on the odd occasion but van Bronckhorst will hope to have Aaron Ramsey and Kemar Roofe back for a match that will now be the biggest his squad have ever played in.
Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco inherited a squad that had £60million spent on it last summer when he replaced Jesse Marsch in December. His Gers rival could only wish he had those kind of sums to work with.
The Ibrox recruitment department has had more misses than hits lately but it says so much about the ability of their Dutch boss to cajole performances when the stakes are highest in Europe that they’ve made it this far without having properly replenished their squad in January.
The threadbare nature of GVB’s options was laid bare as the teamsheets appeared, with the Ibrox men forced to start without a recognised striker as Alfredo Morelos and Roofe sat it out injured.
Van Bronckhorst would have mulled over a few different options for lining up his team but in the end he took a leaf straight out of the Walter Smith playbook.
The late Ibrox boss took his side to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final on the back of gritty, defensive masterclasses and van Bronckhorst must have taken inspiration after blowing the dust off the great man’s old manuals.
John Lundstram dropped into defence to form a back-five intended to shut down space and deny Leipzig the passing lanes they thrive on, with the gaffer hoping the pace of makeshift frontmen Ryan Kent and Scott Wright could offer opportunities on the break.
Rangers were never going to win the tie last night but they could certainly have lost it against a team that has matched Bayern Munich point for point since Tedesco’s appointment.
Yet a few momentary scares apart, the visitors could not have asked for a more comfortable first 45 minutes.
Leipzig’s rapid interchanges around the box early on dragged the Scots deeper and deeper.
Van Bronckhorst’s approach required everyone to be fully focused and switched on. Borna Barisic was
first to blink when his wayward header ended up at Benjamin Henrichs’ feet but there was a reprieve as star home striker Christopher Nkunku fluffed his first attempt before Calvin Bassey threw himself at the second.
Connor Goldson had to do the same as Konrad Laimer burst through moments later but Kent’s ability to win free-kicks in Leipzig territory offered some priceless respite.
Forward forays were rare yet the Rangers support were out of their seats for a brief second as Goldson met a Barisic corner only to send his header wide.
Skipper James Tavernier was next to do his duty, putting himself in between former Manchester City defender Angelino’s strike and Allan McGregor’s goal after a Bassey slip left Rangers vulnerable again.
But by the time the half ended, it was Leipzig looking a little short on inspiration in the face of Gers’ stoic resistance. Having taken the best the
Germans could offer, van Bronckhorst seemed to decide his team didn’t have that much to fear. Or maybe he expected the hosts to step it up.
Whatever the cause, he took decisive action first, dropping Wright and Kent back into a midfield four as Joe Aribo was asked to use his gangly legs to retain possession up top as the lone striker.
For the first time in the match Rangers had an out-ball of worth and it was the Nigerian’s hold-up play that sparked an attack which saw Kent fire across the face of goal just three minutes into the second half.
Tavernier had a shot blocked as Wright wriggled down the right.
Leipzig were jolted by Rangers’ sudden threat and responded, with Nkunku stinging McGregor’s palms from distance.
And just as it looked like they were ready to pounce for the first goal of the tie after Nkunku rounded the Gers No.1, lady luck smiled on van Bronckhorst’s team as the Frenchman inexplicably launched the ball over the bar. There was another let-off as McGregor was glued to his line when Nkunku got above Bassey but again the only ones troubled by the header were the punters in the stand. McGregor had more to do to tip over a strike from American international Tyler Adams. But there was no stopping Angelino, who rasped his effort home from sub Fashion Sakala’s clearing header.
It was a sickening blow but not necessarily fatal.
Rangers just need to believe that they can turn it around next Thursday.