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Tag: Rangers

  • Friendly: Ghana’s Ayew speaks on his team’s loss to Super Eagles

    Friendly: Ghana’s Ayew speaks on his team’s loss to Super Eagles

    Crystal Palace and Ghana forward, Jordan Ayew has reflected on his team’s loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Friday’s International friendly encounter in Marakech, Morocco.

    Rangers of Scotland  Cyriel Dessers and Atalanta of Italy’s Ademola Lookman were the goal scorers for the Super Eagles while Ghana’s consolation goal was scored by Ayew in the dying minutes of the encounter.

    Jeremy Opoku was sent off by the centre referee for a rash challenge in the 57th minute.

    The Black Stars dominated the second half despite their numerical disadvantage.

    Speaking in a post match conference, Ayew,  insisted that they deserved something from the game.

    His words “It didn’t really affect us, it gave us even more energy, more strength to keep on doing what we were doing because I had a feeling that we were the better team in the second half,” Ayew told reporters in the mixed zone after the game.

    “But you know in football, sometimes things go your way, sometimes don’t go your way and I think we put them under pressure, we went toe-to-toe.

    “We did a really good second half so we need to build on that and it’s a positive thing for the future.”

  • Rangers defeat Lobi 2-1 in Enugu to keep title hopes alive

    Rangers defeat Lobi 2-1 in Enugu to keep title hopes alive

     Rangers Football Club of Enugu on Sunday  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium defeated visiting Lobi stars of Makurdi 2-1 in the week 26 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
    Rangers dominated proceedings all through the first half but all efforts to score from open play proved abortive.
    However, the flying antelopes were awarded a penalty on the 39th minute when Ugochukwu Ejike was hacked down in the box by Lobi Goalkeeper, Lucky Abdulahi.
    Ugochukwu neatly beat Abdulahi to give Rangers a deserving lead on the 40th minute to end the first half 1-0.
    Kingsley Madufori gave Rangers the second goal immediately on resumption of the second half on the 48th minute.
    Substitute, Stanley Oganbor pulled one back for Lobi on the 60th minute.
    All efforts by Rangers to increase the tally failed while Lobi’s attempt to equalize proved abortive.
    In his post match reaction, Chief Coach of Lobi Stars, Eugene Ogabe, praised the officiating of the match adding that he was impressed by the performance of his players.
    “I am impressed with my players; I am also happy with the officiating; we will go back and prepare for our next game, ” he said.
    On his part, Rangers Coach, Fidelis Illechukwu, said though he made several changes to his starting lineup due to injuries by his starters, he was satisfied with the result.
    “I am happy for the win. Some of my players injured and I decided to make changes but I am happy about the game, ” he said.
    The win takes Rangers to 45 points behind Lobi with 46 points, while they travel away to Heartland in Owerri next Wednesday
  • Griezmann, Morata grab brace as Atletico thrash 10-man Celtic

    Griezmann, Morata grab brace as Atletico thrash 10-man Celtic

    Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata both struck twice to help thrash 10-man Celtic 6-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, sending the Spaniards top in Group E.

    Atletico made a strong start and Griezmann opened the scoring in the sixth minute, slotting in a low shot from the edge of the box.

    Celtic were then reduced to 10 men when forward Daizen Maeda received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Atletico defender Mario Hermoso in the 23rd minute.

    Some fine saves from Celtic’s veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart from close-range efforts kept them in the game and the visitors almost found a shock equaliser in the 28th minute.

    Atletico keeper Jan Oblak made a stunning one-handed save to deny what would have been a comical own-goal by Morata as he attempted to clear a corner from inside Atletico’s six-yard box.

    Morata made amends in added time before the break, when Griezmann found Jose Maria Gimenez with a brilliant cross from the right touchline to the far corner and he headed it to the Spain captain to tap in.

    Player of the match Griezmann than scored the third with an acrobatic volley in the 60th minute and substitute Samuel Lino netted the fourth with a fine curling strike into the top left corner six minutes later.

    Morata blasted home an unstoppable strike from a rebound in the 76th minute and Saul Niguez wrapped up the scoring from close-range in the 85th.

    “Sure, the red card gave us an advantage, but we had started the game on top, scored early, something that we were having difficulties doing lately,” Griezmann told Movistar Plus.

    “We need to continue like this. With respect to our opponents, we tried to play as well as we could, score as many goals as we could and not do anything stupid or disrespectful.”

    Atletico went top in Group E on eight points with two games remaining, one point ahead of second-placed Lazio who beat Feyenoord 1-0 on Tuesday.

  • Insurance of Benin defeat Rangers 1-0 to win Federation Cup

    Insurance of Benin defeat Rangers 1-0 to win Federation Cup

     

    Bendel Insurance of Benin have won the Federation Cup for the first time in 43 years after defeating  10-man Rangers 1-0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    The Benin Arsenals were awarded a penalty late in the first half after Rangers defender, Chinerwm Ugbwueze handled the ball in the penalty area.

    Ugbwueze got booked for a second yellow and subsequently got sent off from the match.

    Imade colly slotted the ball home sending Rangers goalkeeper Detan Ogundare the wrong way.

    Both teams created goal scoring opportunities afterwards but were let down by their poor marksmanship.

    It was Bendel Insurance’s fourth Federation Cup title and their first in 43 years.

    Recall that Insurance missed a chance to grab a continental ticket after finishing fourth at the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super league.

    Monday Odigie’s side alongside Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

  • UCL: Worst Champions League clubside in history revealed

    UCL: Worst Champions League clubside in history revealed

    Scottish clubside and last season Europa League finalist, Rangers FC have been branding the worst Champions League team in history.

    Rangers were beaten 3-1 at the Ibrox stadium on Tuesday night, having previously lost all five games in the group.

    The team could only manage two goals all through the competition one against Liverpool and the other in the match versus Ajax on Tuesday.

    They recorded the worst group stage performance by any club since the Champions League was rebranded in 1992.

    This record was held by Croatian side, Dinamo Zagreb, having finished bottom of their group with no points and a -19 goal difference in 2011/12.

    Viktoria Plzen also equalled Dinamo Zagreb’s record on Tuesday evening as they finished bottom of Group C with a goal difference of -19.

    Rangers are presently second on the Scottish premier league table just four points behind leaders Celtic.They have won 9 games, drawn two and lost just 1.

  • Rangers fight back against Celtic to earn Scottish Cup final ticket

    Rangers fight back against Celtic to earn Scottish Cup final ticket

    Celtic’s Carl Starfelt put through his own net deep into extra-time as Rangers came from behind to beat their Old Firm rivals 2-1 in a frantic Scottish Cup semi-final.

    Greg Taylor fired a low finish beyond Jon McLaughlin shortly after the hour to hand Celtic the lead, before substitute Scott Arfield bent home a brilliant leveller to force additional time.

    With a penalty kick shoot-out on the horizon, Starfelt deflected Calvin Bassey’s left-wing cross past Joe Hart to send Rangers to their 53rd Scottish Cup final.

    Hearts lie in wait after overcoming Hibernian on Saturday.

    A boisterous atmosphere gave way to a frantic opening at Hampden Park, with Ryan Kent firing over under pressure and Jota heading onto the roof of the net at the other end.

    John Lundstram curled against the post as Rangers enjoyed the better of the first half.

    But their threat faded somewhat after Aaron Ramsey was injured shortly before the break.

    Ange Postecoglou’s side improved after half time and took the lead after 63 minutes.

    Taylor spun on Callum McGregor’s inventive shot free-kick before firing into the bottom-right corner.

    The Hoops went close to a quickfire second five minutes later when Cameron Carter-Vickers crashed a left-footed shot against the crossbar from a corner-kick.

    They were made to pay for that missed opportunity after 78 minutes with Arfield latching onto Kemar Roofe’s heavy touch to curl home just four minutes after coming on.

    Celtic somehow survived Rangers twice hitting the woodwork in the 110th minute.

    James Tavernier smashed off the near post and Fashion Sakala diverted the rebound onto the top of the bar.

    But Rangers found time for a winner as Bassey’s left-wing cutback was diverted into his own net by Starfelt under pressure from Sakala.

    It ended Celtic’s treble hopes and booked Rangers’ Cup final spot.

  • NPFL: Referee escapes mob attack after Rangers draw with Wikki Tourists

    NPFL: Referee escapes mob attack after Rangers draw with Wikki Tourists

    A handful of football fans in Bauchi on Sunday went berserk and attacked the referee of the match between Wikki Tourists Football Club and visiting Rangers International of Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred after the match, a 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League

    (NPFL) Match Day 11 fixture, ended goalless.

    The football fans were unhappy with the result of the match at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

    The furious fans rained abuses on the referee, whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of this report, accusing him of bad officiating.

    They threw stones at him and pelted him and other match officials with sachets of water.

    The referee was however rescued by policemen and other security agents in the stadium, after scaring away the mob.

    Aliyu Illelah, one of the fans, said the referee was not sincere in his officiating, explaining that that was why the fans got provoked and wanted to attack him.

    Another fan, Musa Manager, however said their action was barbaric.

    ”What they (the angry fans) did was not right. While the Wikki Tourists’ players did their best, the referee was very realistic in his officiating,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the head coach of Rangers International, Abdul Maikaba, refused to speak on either the incident or the match, saying “it is not safe to conduct interviews”.

    On his part, the Technical Adviser of Wikki Tourists, Kabiru Dogo, could not be located for any comment because of the tense situation in the stadium.

  • Rangers fans have every right to feel betrayed by Gerrard – Dalglish

    Rangers fans have every right to feel betrayed by Gerrard – Dalglish

    Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish says Rangers fans have every right to feel let down by Steven Gerrard.

    Former Reds captain Gerrard quit Rangers to charge of Aston Villa last week.

    “In the days since Steven Gerrard left Rangers for Aston Villa, I don’t think the anger from the Rangers fans has subsided any,” Dalglish wrote in his Sunday Post column.

    “They have every right to be disappointed and hurt.

    “They feel let down and betrayed, and the range of emotions we’ve witnessed on social media are fully understandable.

    “Many of them are still feeling very raw, and I can see why they are feeling dejected. One reason is the timing of Steven’s departure.

    “He has left in mid-season, with a League Cup semi-final with Hibs and a huge Europa League tie against Sparta Prague on the horizon.

    “And after the Europa League win over Brondby recently, when pressed live on TV about speculation around him moving to Newcastle United, he stated he was happy at the club.

    “But he couldn’t control when another club came in for him. Aston Villa made their move and he was persuaded to move back down south.

    “Football is all about moving from here to there. It has always happened, and it will continue to happen.”

  • Premier League club appoints Steven Gerrard as manager

    Premier League club appoints Steven Gerrard as manager

    Aston Villa have appointed Steven Gerrard as manager on a three-and-a-half year deal, ending his three-year reign at Rangers.

    The former Liverpool captain, 41, leaves the Scottish champions having guided them to a first league title in 10 years last season.

    Gerrard replaces Dean Smith, who was sacked on Sunday after a run of five successive defeats.

    Villa are 16th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone.

    “Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach,” said Gerrard.

    “In my conversations with [co-owners] Nassef [Sawiris], Wes [Edens] and the rest of the board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”

    Gerrard took his first steps in senior management with Scottish Premiership side Rangers in 2018, and leaves with them four points clear of rivals Celtic at the top of the table.

    BBC Sport Scotland reports Villa have paid Rangers £4.5m in compensation.

  • Real Madrid holding back David Alaba from making debut

    Real Madrid holding back David Alaba from making debut

    Real Madrid are holding back David Alaba from making his debut.

    The Austrian won’t be used against Rangers this weekend in Real Madrid’s first official pre-season friendly.

    The defender has only had four training sessions at Los Blancos and Ancelotti believes he would be rushing the process by fielding the new signing in Scotland against Rangers. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, advised by fitness chief Antonio Pintus, made this call on Saturday, while discussing the situation with the player too.

    Alaba will stay behind in Spain and won’t travel to Glasgow for Sunday’s friendly, with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Raphael Varane and Gareth Bale to remain in the capital too. They all had a second session on Saturday and will then train at Valdebebas on Sunday, while their teammates fly to the UK.