UEFA Champions League qualification – Rangers versus Malmo: Second half review
After disappointing their home crowd in the first half with a lacklustre performance at their own home stadium, Rangers looked to start the second half in an aggressive fashion as they aimed to score a quick equalizer against Malmo
in their UEFA Champions League qualification play-off third round.
Rangers’ ambitious and offensive approach at the start of the second half meant that they maintained a monopoly over ball possession for the first three minutes of the second half but in the 48th minute Malmo pounded
on an opportunity to lead a counter attack against the home team. Figueiredo led the surge for the Swedish club side and he found his team mate and Malmo’s striker, Larsson at the edge of the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314 penalty area but Larsson failed to get a clean shot off
at Rangers’ goal and thus the score line remained at one nil.
In the 50th minute, Papac went into the referee’s book for Rangers for his late sliding tackle on Larsson near the half way line. In the 52nd minute, Malmo were on the front foot once again as this time Figueiredo
tried his luck at McGregor’s goal from outside the Rangers’ penalty area. However the Scottish shot stopper tipped the ball away for a corner kick by getting his finger tips to the ball.
In the 57th minute, Rangers were caught out at the back one again. This time Figueiredo tried his luck from distance once again and McGregor was equal to the task yet again as their midfielder failed to add to his team’s
one goal advantage at the Ibrox Stadium. In the 66th minute, Rangers had a wonderful chance to get an equalizer as Jelavic sneaked into the penalty area before whipping in a teasing cross for Naismith. Unluckily for Rangers, their striker failed
to put the ball into the back of the Malmo net from two yards out as he miscued his shot.
In the 69th minute, Naismith and Jelavic combined again for Rangers but again Naismith failed to provide a credible finish to the move, which promised so much for the Scottish giants at their own home stadium. In the
77th minute, Davis was played in by Naismith right at the edge of the Malmo penalty area but the Scottish playmaker missed the Malmo goal by mere inches as his shot sailed wide of the mark.
Nonetheless the match finally came to an end with a win for Malmo. In order to qualify for the UEFA Champion’s League group stages, Rangers would now have to score twice against Malmo when they travel to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sweden-c3015 to play the Swedish
underdogs for the second leg of their qualification playoff.
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