ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH
Morelos misfires but Rangers revive their Europa hopes after blowing away Danes
THE wait for Alfredo Morelos to score his 100th Rangers goal goes on. Steven Gerrard had urged him to sharpen up his act, but the challenge didn’t have quite the desired effect.
Replaced by Fashion Sakala with 20 minutes to play, the Colombian should have reached his century in a first half when Scotland’s champions revived hopes of Europa League progress. A player who blows hot and cold in front of goal, he’ll get there eventually.
Yet it didn’t matter much in the end. A glorious chance to reach his landmark teed up the second Rangers goal of the night for Kemar Roofe with a little help from VAR — after Leon Balogun had headed the home team into the lead in the 18th minute.
A comfortable victory in the end, the only mild regret for Rangers being the lack of more goals. Morelos smashed a shot against the upright before half-time while substitute Scott Arfield hit the crossbar in the final ten minutes.
While the margin of victory could have been wider, the Ibrox side did enough to suggest they can travel to Copenhagen in two weeks and beat an average Brondby side for a second time.
A point behind Sparta Prague in Group A after the Czechs surrendered a two-goal lead against Lyon to lose 4-3, second place is back in the mix. Third in the group — and Europa Conference League football after Christmas — now looks the least of their ambitions.
After a low-key start, Gerrard’s side eased into a two-goal lead before half-time, prompted by the craft and excellence of Joe Aribo. Not for the first time this season, they dropped off slightly in the second half, when Brondby’s lack of quality in front of goal proved a blessing.
There might actually have been more fight in a raucous support than there was in their team.
The Rangers opener came from a corner taken by James Tavernier, who was pelted with various objects by the visiting supporters while doing so.
His response was brutal, a terrific outswinging ball picking out the head of Balogun. The
Nigerian international got up easily above Morten Frendrup to head the ball into the net from ten yards. For Rangers, it was the first chance. For Balogun, it was a first competitive goal in light blue on a night curtailed by injury after the hour.
Before the game, Gerrard identified the visiting front two as their main danger. And, before the half hour, Mikael Uhre and Andrija Pavlovic combined to create — and miss — Brondby’s only chance of the first half.
Uhre took on Connor Goldson and made for the byeline on the left side, driving a cut back towards strike partner Pavlovic. The ball slightly behind him, the No 9 leaned back and ballooned the ball over the bar from ten yards. It was a let-off Rangers were quick to take advantage of.
Aribo scooped a cross towards the back post towards the head of Morelos. Reminded of the need to do more in front of goal by Gerrard, the striker remains a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.
Odds-on to claim his elusive 100th goal for the club, he headed straight at goalkeeper Thomas Mikkelsen when he really should have buried it.
The drama continued when Roofe tapped in from three yards, only for Rangers’ celebrations to be halted by an offside flag.
At first glance, replays seemed to show Roofe (right, with Balogun) narrowly offside when Aribo crossed. However, after a long wait — and a long look — the video assistant referee decided the goal was valid. A still shot showed that Henrik Heggheim had played the striker on by the length of a toenail. Rangers had a two-goal cushion. Eventually.
It looked like a long night for the Danish champions now. Despite claiming their first title in 16 years last season, Brondby have toiled in the new campaign, sitting sixth in the league — 13 points behind leaders Midtjylland — after 12 games. They hit back twice from behind to beat bottom club Velje for their third league victory last weekend. Despite a decent record against Scottish teams in Europe — they knocked out Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibs in the past — no one fancied them to make a dent on Rangers in the second half. Had Morelos squeezed a first-time shot inside the post instead of striking the base on the half-time whistle, Rangers would have been out of sight. Within seconds of the restart came a reminder of work to do yet. Guilty of a slack, careless back pass, Borna Barisic gifted Brondby their best chance of the game when he sent Uhre clean through on goal. While Allan McGregor deserves credit for racing from his line and closing down space, the striker’s failure to hit the target was hard to explain. It seemed easier to score.
Rangers will point to a baffling failure to award them a penalty after 58 minutes. The reluctance to subject a clumsy late challenge from Sigurd Rosted on Aribo to a penalty check was hard to fathom. It was a much easier decision to get right than the Roofe goal, and was a clear spot-kick.
The loss of opening goalscorer Balogun after 64 minutes was a worrying business. The defender limped off clutching his hamstring and, with Filip Helander already a long-term absentee, replacement Calvin Bassey — a left-back to trade — now looks odds-on to face St Mirren on Sunday.
While their defensive resources are stretched, Rangers were rarely tested by a limited Brondby side. Imploring his team to score more goals, Gerrard will rue missed opportunities in the final stages. Substitutes Scott Wright and Arfield combined for the midfielder to smash a cut back against the crossbar. Offered a glorious chance to show Morelos how it’s done, replacement Sakala blew an excellent chance to add a third when through on goal. In a far corner of Ibrox, the Danish fans sang as if they had won the game. For Rangers fans in a crowd of 46,844, the night was one of quiet satisfaction after a job well done.