MORELOS MAKES IT MAGICAL
IT seemed the spotlight might shift elsewhere. That he was no longer the man upon whom Rangers relied in the heat of continental competition. Alfredo Morelos wasn’t having that.
Stepping off the bench midway through the second half, Morelos took just seven minutes to score a goal that carried huge personal significance as well as retaining three vital Europa League points at Ibrox.
A thumping header from a brilliant Borna Barisic cross was his 21st European goal for the club, drawing the Colombian level with Ally McCoist’s all-time record. In three- and- a- bit seasons, that counts as a phenomenal return.
His starting role had gone to Kemar Roofe, fresh from that extraordinary strike in Liege last week. But as Steven Gerrard’s side toiled for incision against a Polish team full of energy and technical bravery, the Ibrox boss turned to Morelos for a solution.
It was a call he answered in emphatic fashion, rekindling his love affair with this particular tournament.
Just as he did so often last term, the 24-year- old made a decisive intervention when it was needed most.
Rangers did not find their fluent best here when making it 17 games unbeaten and five straight wins in
Europe. Poznan caused more anxiety than some might have expected. It was a tense grind in the closing stages.
The outcome, though, leaves Gerrard’s men sitting very pretty in Group D. Next week’s trip to Lisbon to meet Benfica will be a battle between two teams with six points from two games.
A path towards the knockout stage is opening up nicely.
Fortitude had to be found to get this win banked and it will be the same for Rangers on Sunday when they have an opportunity to move nine points clear at the top of the Premiership.
A trip to meet Kilmarnock at Rugby Park — a graveyard of past ambitions — likely stirred more trepidation in supporters when they viewed this week’s fixture list. That in itself is a compliment to just how far Rangers have advanced in Europe under Gerrard.
He opted here for a second successive selection showing five changes. In came Leon Balogun, Barisic, Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara and Roofe. Filip Helander, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and Jermain Defoe were removed from the line-up that recorded Sunday’s comfortable 2-0 win over Livingston.
This was Roofe’s first start since the beginning of this continental expedition against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar on September 17 — the evening he sustained a calf injury that cost him more than a month of involvement. It could also have been viewed as a sign of changing times at Ibrox.
The idea of a fit and available Morelos not starting a Europa League group stage match would have been unthinkable last season. As G err a rd outlined on Wednesday, however, his striking options are now at the strongest level of his 28-month tenure.
Morelos’ absence didn’t entirely blunt Rangers but nor did they have it all their own way in a first half that carried an appealing tactical dimension.
Poznan came here to play out from the back. Their willingness to do so in the face of the home side’s high press showed a belief undimmed by flawed recent form. Second in the Ekstraklasa last season, they sit tenth this time around having won just two of their opening seven games.
A Daniel Ramirez left-foot shot wide from 20 yards was the Poles’ attacking introduction.
Then a fine forward surge by Tymoteusz Puchacz ended with a low cross that required an agile clearance from Balogunalogun to find safety.
After losing at home ome to Benfica last week ek — an end-to- end d contest Gerrard d described as resembling a basketball match — coach Dariusz Zuraw had clearly decided continuing a front- foot approach wa ss essential to mainntain a serious interest rest in the section.
The hope for Gerrard was that space would be left for his team to exploit.
There were times when Rangers did stretch a defence that had former Celtic centre-back Thomas Rogne — the Lech captain — at its heart.
Just not frequently enough to satisfy the Ibrox manager ahead of his half-time address.
Roofe completely foxed Lubomir Satka to turn and advance towards the area, touching the ball right to Ianis Hagi in space. The Romanian couldn’t quite sort out his feet in time, though, and sliced his snapshot wide. Hagi then combined with Arfield for a strike by the latter held by Filip Bednarek before a more enticing chance arrived on 25 minutes. Barisic delivered with typical quality from the left but Roofe miscued his first attempt. He wentwen again with an ambitambitious overhead kick that bounced wiwide — much to tthh ed is may of RRyan Kent who wwas closing in to strike had the ball been left. Steven Davis t then had a ccouple of goes at tthe Lech goal, bubut Poznan were carcarrying no less of a threathreat. Just beforeb the break, Alan CzeCzerwinski set up Mikael Ishak for a drive over the top from a promising position. Gerrard needed more invention after the restart but it was their opponents who initially exuded danger on the break. A fine cross from raiding rightback Czerwinski just eluded takers on the edge of the six-yard box. Then a smart delivery from
Ramirez was headed wide by Rogne.
Rangers were huffing and puffing but blowing nothing down. Gerrard decided a change was needed on 62 minutes. Morelos for Roofe was the call. And it proved inspired. Within seven minutes, the breakthrough arrived.
Kent f ound Barisic i n an advanced position on the left and the Croatian whipped in a cross of such inviting quality that it should have come with an RSVP card. Morelos moved to meet it, losing Rogne who slipped and sprawled on the deck.
By the time the Norwegian looked up, the ball had struck the back of the net and bounced back. Morelos connected with such force on the header that Bednarek had not a hope.
Rangers had to dig deep to see it through as Poznan pounded forward. Filip Marchwinski headed wide their best chance, though, and another positive European result was secured. RANGERS (4-3-2-1): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Davis, Arfield (Jack 81), Kamara; Hagi (Aribo 69), Kent (Barker 81); Roofe (Morelos 62). Substitutes not used: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Itten, Zungu, Patterson, Stewart, Barjonas. Booked: Balogun, Goldson. LECH POZNAN (4-4-1-1): Badnarek; Czerwinski, Satke, Rogne, Kravets; Skoras (Sykora 74), Moder, Marchwinski, Puchacz; Ramirez (Kacharava 88); Ishak. Substitutes not used: Malenica, Muhar, Dejewski, Awwad, Klups. Booked: Ishak. Referee: Kristoffer Tohver (Est).