Rangers today welcome Union to Ibrox in the second leg of the Champions league 3rd qualifying round. Rangers trail 0-2 from leg one after a dismal showing in Belgium and a much improved performance will be required this evening.
The good news is we definitely can’t play any worse and the Belgians have yet to see what we are truly made of, so we may be able to surprise then but in all honesty it’s a talk order. It’s a big ask against a well organised side who spring the counter very well.
Rangers will have to be sharper than the opening games but two league wins have at least brought some platform to build on.
Our team this evening – McLaughlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic, Lundstram, Arfield, Lawrence, Tillman, Kent, Čolak
Subs – McGregor, McCrorie, Ridvan, Davies, King, Jack, Davis, Kamara, Matondo, Morelos, Wright, Fashion JR
Good luck Rangers!
FIRST HALF ACTION
5 mins – Tillman heads over a Lawrence corner.
7 mins – Rangers pressure, 3 corners but nothing clear.
9 mins – Čolak flashes a header over.
18 mins – USG head a corner well wide.
28 mins – Brilliant wipped Lawrence free kick is headed goal ward but a brilliant save keeps it at 0-0.
33 mins – Lawrence drives forward and curls an effort wide.
38 mins – Caution 📒 Sands with a good tactical foul, stops a break but slackness costs that.
41 mins – Dangerous FK for SG which they waste.
44 mins – GOAL! PENALTY RANGERS! Tav converts after a Borna cross is handled, vital goal! 1-0 Rangers! Colak and USG GK Morris cautioned 📒.
HT RANGERS 1 USG 0
SECOND HALF ACTION
48 mins – Slack by Goldson and USG sky one over, Sands and Goldsons distribution has been rocky at times.
56 mins – GOALLLLLL! Čolak nods in Rangers 2nd as Ibrox explodes! 2-0 Rangers!
58 mins – SAVE! Lundstram drives a shot in which the GK saves well. 2-0.
64 mins – HUGE SAVE! Jon McLaughlin off his line and saves superbly.
Substitution – Arfield off Matondo on
75 mins – Caution Lawrence 📒
78 mins – GOOOOAAAALLLLL! Borna with a deep cross and Tillman heads home! It’s 3-0!
Substitution – Čolak off Morelos on, Sands off Davies on
84 mins – Save! Alfredo from Tillman and tipped wide!
87 mins – Substitution – Lawrence off Kamara on
90 mins – Kamara to Kent who drills it across and Alfie can’t reach.
5 mins added on – Cheers for that 😫
📒📕 Arnani is off for USG.
FULL TIME – RANGERS 3 USG 0
Summary and press conference
A magnificent Rangers performance in a night where we needed it. The new boys shown and showed their worth, Lawrence and Tillman were brilliant and Antonio Čolak with a huge goal. But an all round heroic performance from a situation we should never have been in.
Rangers deserved the victory and Ibrox is a real fortress on nights like these. It was a breathless match in some ways, one moment James Sands was going off until it was overturned and we then went on to get a third at a vital time. To be honest, USG never really threatened and we were comfortable although it never really was.
A historic night and £5m minimum now banked from the Champions League, which shows the importance of tonight.
Pleasure to witness that one though it felt frantic at times, a big night for the club, now to kick on and hit form because even with this we can be a whole lot better.
Four Lads Had A Dream 