superb sevilla rock rangers in glasgow published: wednesday 30 september 2009, 0.35cet
rangers fc 1-4 sevilla fc
sevilla returned to the city where they claimed the 2007 uefa cup to overwhelm rangers with four goals in 24 second-half minutes.
by alex o'henley from ibrox
sevilla fc took command of uefa champions league group g as four goals in 24 second-half minutes claimed a convincing away victory over rangers fc in glasgow.
second-half goals after an even first half, abdoulay konko broke the deadlock on 50 minutes. it opened the floodgates for the spanish side with adriano, luis fabiano and frédéric kanouté adding to the tally in a devastating spell on a return to the city where sevilla retained the uefa cup in 2007. rangers substitute nacho novo scored a late consolation but his team are now bottom of the group, five points behind leaders sevilla.
rangers change following three domestic games without a goal, rangers manager walter smith sprang a surprise by opting for steven naismith over kenny miller as his lone striker and the scottish international glanced a steve davis cross over early on. however, on a rain-slickened surface, sevilla soon settled into their passing rhythm and carved open the home defence on 15 minutes. allan mcgregor came smartly off his line to block kanouté's goal-bound effort after a smart exchange with jesús navas.
sustained pressure naismith was devoid of support but midway through the half lee mcculloch latched on to a julien escudé clearance and unleashed a shot that rose just over andrés palop's crossbar. this prompted a period of sustained pressure from the home side and moments later kevin thomson pulled a shot narrowly wide.
navas close as a more even contest flowed from end to end, next it was sevilla's turn and four minutes before the interval adriano almost broke the deadlock. dispossessing madjid bougherra on the edge of the box, he unleashed a powerful right-foot shot that mcgregor could only parry to navas. however, the follow-up was lifted over from close range.
sevilla ahead mcculloch, too, came close with a glancing header soon after the restart but it proved a false dawn and three minutes later sevilla were ahead. this time it was lolo's set-piece delivery that caused the problems, finding navas, and the winger expertly picked out konko to rise unmarked and plant a firm header between mcgregor and his near post.
lead doubled back came rangers and steven whittaker slid a teasing ball across the face of the sevilla goal which just eluded saša papac before thomson forced palop to tip over from distance. chasing an equaliser rangers were now prone to sevilla's quick counters and the second goal duly arrived on 64 minutes. once again kanouté and fabiano were the orchestrators, working a one-two before the brazilian squared to where adriano was waiting to stroke the ball in.
further goals it was now case of damage limitation for the scottish champions but eight minutes later they were undone again when fabiano turned in kanouté's cross. the brazil striker swiftly returned the favour when he released kanouté to put the result beyond doubt before novo salvaged some pride for the home side with a rasping shot from the edge of the area.
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