Rangers suffer shock Euro defeat

By Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport Larsson (right) celebrates his well-taken opener after 18 minutes

Rangers face an uphill battle to qualify for the next round of the Champions League after losing the first leg of their qualifier against Malmo.

Malmo took the lead on 18 minutes when a cute flick from Wilton Figueiredo set up Daniel Larsson, who smashed in.

Rangers improved and should have overturned the lead but Steven Naismith shot wide twice in close succession.

But Malmo's attack kept Allan McGregor busy and following Steve Davis's shot over the hosts could not equalise.

Figueiredo was a constant threat for the Swedish champions and he twice had shots well saved, one a free-kick and another a curling effort after a fine counter attack.

But the way in which Ally McCoist's side failed to make a breakthrough leaves them a huge task in the return leg on 3 August, with thoughts of making the group stages a long way off.

They will have to improve on a sluggish start and it was from Steven Whittaker's mistake that Larsson struck what proved to be the winner.

The Rangers defender lost possession at the right-side of his own penalty box allowing Malmo to pounce, and as Larsson fired in it gave further encouragement to their already vocal fans.

Rangers improved following David Weir's hamstring injury after half an hour, which made them change tactics and employ two centre-backs rather than three.

And soon after Davis carved out their first real chance by going close with a free-kick, before his cross was mistimed by Nikica Jelavic when the striker looked well-placed.

McCoist had warned of Malmo's attacking threat before the game and Larsson missed a chance to make it 2-0 soon after the break when he could not connect with Figueiredo's right-wing cross, and the Brazilian extracted two fine saves from Rangers keeper McGregor.

Rangers should have overturned the lead in the space of a few minutes when Naismith skewed wide on two occasions.

As the hosts increased the pressure on their opponents, Davis shot just over from a well-worked effort, but Malmo were always a threat on the break and McCoist can have few complaints in what proved to be an open yet frustrating encounter.

The difference was Larsson and his strike will create extra pressure for the return leg with qualification for the group stage proving crucial to Rangers' financial situation.

 

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Champions Lge qualifying

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Rangers	0-1	Malmo	FT
(HT 0-1)

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:09 The referee ends the match.
• 90:00+1:40 The ball is sent over by Sasa Papac, save made by Dusan Melicharek.
• 89:40 Lee Wallace delivers the ball.
• 88:38 Effort on goal by Palazon Juanma Ortiz from just inside the area clears the bar.
• 86:58 The ball is delivered by Steven Whittaker, Jiloan Hamad manages to make a clearance.
• 85:34 Amin Nazari sends in a cross, save by Allan McGregor.
• 82:36 Palazon Juanma Ortiz sends in a cross, Pontus Jansson makes a clearance.
• 82:18 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Wallace, save by Dusan Melicharek.
• 82:05 Steven Whittaker crosses the ball, blocked by Jiloan Hamad.
• 81:49 Jiloan Hamad gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Naismith. Free kick taken by Maurice Edu.
• 81:09 Jimmy Durmaz takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Sasa Papac.
• 80:58 Jiloan Hamad takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
• 80:43 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jimmy Durmaz, Sasa Papac makes a clearance.
• 80:29 Substitution Fernandez Yago comes on in place of Daniel Larsson.
• 80:08 Dardan Rexhepi takes a shot. Allan McGregor makes a save.
• 78:52 Shot on goal by Steven Davis from just inside the area goes over the target.
• 76:20 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker.
• 74:42 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Wallace played to the near post, clearance by Ivo Pekalski.
• 74:30 The ball is crossed by Steven Naismith, blocked by Jiloan Hamad.
• 73:58 Amin Nazari gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Palazon Juanma Ortiz. Steven Davis crosses the ball in from the free kick, Daniel Andersson makes a clearance.
• 73:30 The ball is crossed by Lee Wallace, Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Melicharek.
• 73:09 The ball is swung over by Steven Davis, Ivo Pekalski manages to make a clearance.
• 71:22 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Miljan Mutavdzic goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 70:08 Lee Wallace produces a cross, Nikica Jelavic has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
• 68:43 Substitution Wilton Figueiredo goes off and Dardan Rexhepi comes on.
• 68:15 A cross is delivered by Nikica Jelavic, Shot from close range by Steven Naismith misses to the left of the goal.
• 68:05 Centre by Steven Whittaker, Jimmy Durmaz manages to make a clearance.
• 66:20 Nikica Jelavic sends in a cross, Close range shot by Steven Naismith misses to the left of the target.
• 65:21 Effort on goal by Lee McCulloch from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
• 65:14 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker, Daniel Andersson manages to make a clearance.
• 64:04 Nikica Jelavic fouled by Jiloan Hamad, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Lee Wallace, clearance by Markus Halsti.
• 63:28 The ball is crossed by Jiloan Hamad.
• 62:19 Palazon Juanma Ortiz produces a cross.
• 60:56 The ball is crossed by Steven Whittaker, Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Blocked by Ivo Pekalski.
• 58:53 Corner taken by Wilton Figueiredo, Daniel Andersson takes a shot. Save made by Allan McGregor.
• 58:30 Shot by Wilton Figueiredo. Save made by Allan McGregor.
• 57:50 Steven Whittaker sends in a cross, Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Dusan Melicharek makes a save.
• 56:17 Booking Lee Wallace is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 54:47 Palazon Juanma Ortiz crosses the ball.
• 54:20 Daniel Larsson is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
• 53:10 Substitution Amin Nazari comes on in place of Agon Mehmeti.
• 52:36 Corner taken by Steven Davis from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Wilton Figueiredo.
• 52:16 Lee McCulloch takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Melicharek.
• 51:03 Lee Wallace sends in a cross, Steven Naismith takes a shot.
• 50:37 Jiloan Hamad concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Naismith. Free kick crossed by Steven Davis, Palazon Juanma Ortiz manages to make a clearance.
• 49:33 Wilton Figueiredo takes the outswinging corner, Miljan Mutavdzic produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
• 48:53 Sasa Papac gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wilton Figueiredo. Wilton Figueiredo takes the direct free kick.
• 48:53 Booking Booking for Sasa Papac.
• 46:43 Foul by Ivo Pekalski on Lee McCulloch, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steven Davis.
• 46:23 The ball is crossed by Wilton Figueiredo, Daniel Larsson takes a shot.
• 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
• Half Time
• 45:00+2:43 The referee calls an end to the first half.
• 45:00+2:06 Inswinging corner taken by Lee McCulloch, Madjid Bougherra takes a shot. Blocked by Jiloan Hamad.
• 45:00+2:00 Lee Wallace sends in a cross, blocked by Markus Halsti.
• 45:00+1:32 Palazon Juanma Ortiz produces a cross, clearance by Daniel Andersson.
• 44:43 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Agon Mehmeti by Lee Wallace. Agon Mehmeti restarts play with the free kick.
• 44:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Andersson by Maurice Edu. Dusan Melicharek takes the free kick.
• 42:03 The ball is crossed by Sasa Papac.
• 40:25 The ball is delivered by Steven Davis, Shot by Nikica Jelavic from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
• 37:49 The offside flag is raised against Nikica Jelavic. Free kick taken by Daniel Andersson.
• 36:35 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Wallace, Madjid Bougherra has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
• 35:27 Unfair challenge on Sasa Papac by Miljan Mutavdzic results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
• 34:43 Nikica Jelavic crosses the ball, save by Dusan Melicharek.
• 31:00 Steven Whittaker has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
• 30:33 Short corner worked by Steven Davis, Palazon Juanma Ortiz sends in a cross, Daniel Andersson manages to make a clearance.
• 29:18 The referee penalises Wilton Figueiredo for handball. Steven Davis produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, brilliant save by Dusan Melicharek.
• 29:18 Booking Booking for Wilton Figueiredo for unsporting behaviour.
• 28:17 Pontus Jansson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Naismith. Shot comes in from Nikica Jelavic from the free kick, Wilton Figueiredo gets a block in.
• 28:17 Substitution David Weir goes off and Palazon Juanma Ortiz comes on.
• 26:58 Unfair challenge on Wilton Figueiredo by Steven Davis results in a free kick. Wilton Figueiredo fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Allan McGregor.
• 25:37 Ivo Pekalski crosses the ball, save by Allan McGregor.
• 24:48 David Weir concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Larsson. Direct free kick taken by Jimmy Durmaz.
• 24:14 Steven Naismith sends in a cross.
• 24:04 The ball is swung over by Steven Whittaker, Daniel Andersson manages to make a clearance.
• 23:11 Wilton Figueiredo produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
• 22:43 Centre by Lee Wallace.
• 21:26 Centre by Steven Naismith, clearance by Daniel Andersson.
• 20:44 Maurice Edu takes a shot. Blocked by Miljan Mutavdzic.
• 17:02 The assist for the goal came from Wilton Figueiredo.
• 17:02 GOAL - Daniel Larsson:Rangers 0 - 1 Malmo Daniel Larsson grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Rangers 0-1 Malmo FF.
• 15:07 Daniel Larsson fouled by David Weir, the ref awards a free kick. Ivo Pekalski crosses the ball in from the free kick.
• 14:10 Centre by Steven Whittaker, Headed effort on goal by Nikica Jelavic from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
• 11:23 Steven Davis sends in a cross, clearance by Pontus Jansson.
• 9:14 Lee McCulloch concedes a free kick for a foul on Miljan Mutavdzic. Jimmy Durmaz restarts play with the free kick.
• 8:16 Daniel Larsson produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
• 7:58 Wilton Figueiredo takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
• 5:58 Steven Davis delivers the ball, save made by Dusan Melicharek.
• 2:01 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker.
• 0:44 Daniel Larsson takes a shot.
• 0:00 The referee gets the match started.

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