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McCausland celebrates after sealing the winCredit: Rex
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Malmo fans butn a Rangers supporter’s hoodieCredit: Willie Vass
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Philippe Clement guided his men to a comfortable winCredit: Willie Vass
It famously took the winger just 23 seconds to net for Albania against Italy.
The 25-year-old showed no signs of slowing down against Malmo.
Scoring after just 56 seconds, his strike laid the foundations for a brilliant away win.
Yet, for a while, that dream seemed destined to be undone by Gers’ failure to finish.
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That was until Ross McCausland stepped off the bench to add a priceless second goal on a night when Rangers finally exorcised their Malmo demons.
Rangers player ratings
By Roger Hannah
Jack Butland – Beaten by Isaac Kiese Thelin in the first half but the offside flag was up. Probably won’t have a quieter Euro away day in this Europa League group. No shots on target from Malmo all evening. 6
James Tavernier – Skipper landed early booking for dissent and tried to support Vaclav Cerny whenever he could. Hit long ball towards Cyriel Dessers which was intercepted but allowed Ross McCausland to score. 6
John Souttar – One slack pass straight out of play in the first half. Great headed clearance from Anders Christiansen’s corner after the break. Scotland stopper slid in to clear low cross from sub Erik Botheim. 7
Robin Propper – Headed over the top from an outswinging corner after 27 minutes. Got clattered in an aerial challenge on the restart. Slowly improving alongside Souttar and kept Malmo’s attackers at bay. 7
Neraysho Kasanwirjo – Thrown in at left-back for his first Gers start with Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz both absent. Often turned back onto his preferred right foot and will be happy with his play but missed late chance. 7
Connor Barron – Neat and tidy in the middle of the park and sat deep to allow Mo Diomande to push on. Taking real responsibility in the engine room and growing into a first pick for boss Philippe Clement. 7
Mo Diomande – Penalised for an early tug as Malmo pushed for an equaliser. Looked to get forward and support the attack in the first half. Always comfortable as Gers eased to win over Swedish league leaders. 6
Tom Lawrence – Deployed in the No10 role but struggled to be a creative influence in the first half in Sweden. Leaning back when he fired off target just before the hour mark. Subbed late on in his 50th game for Gers. 6
Nedim Bajrami – The Albanian ace netted his first Gers goal with a tap-in inside the first minute. Tested Malmo keeper Johan Dahlin from the edge of the box twice before the break. Bright start to his Gers career. 8
Vaclav Cerny – Missed a gilt-edged chance to double Gers’ lead after going one on one with Dahlin before the interval. Flattered to deceive before making way for scorer Ross McCausland midway through second half. 6
Cyriel Dessers – Hit post from a tight angle before Bajrami netted the rebound early on. Freed Bajrami for another chance when the Albanian tried to return a pass rather than shooting. Fired over in second half. 6
Subs: Ross McCausland (Cerny 69, 7) Headed wide at back post before slamming home Gers’ second goal. Nico Raskin (Lawrence 80, 4) A 50th Gers appearance for the little Belgian midfielder. Dujon Sterling (Bajrami 84, 3). Late introduction for Bajrami to shore up the midfield.
The Swedes, of course, had thrown down the gauntlet with a cheeky welcome message.
But they were left choking on their words as they folded like a cheap piece of IKEA furniture.
After his social media team had talked the talk, Henrik Rydstrom’s players failed miserably to walk the walk.
The Ibrox side had never beaten their cocky hosts in four attempts and ahead of this one Malmo lit the blue touch paper as they rekindled the rivalry.
Cheeky Malmo rekindle Rangers rivalry three years after smirking Jon Dahl Tomasson’s taunt
In an ill-advised tweet, the club posted: “When we met in 2011 you ended up in the fourth division.
“When we met in 2021 you ended up in the Europa League final.
“Welcome back to Malmo, Rangers. We’ve missed you.”
But their taunts came back to haunt them with Philippe Clement’s men at last up and running in Europe.
After failing to secure a seat at Europe’s top table, Rangers are dining again in the Europa League.
It’s a competition they’ve flourished in since Steven Gerrard led them back there six years ago.
In that time they’ve contested a final as well as reaching the knockout stages in four out of five attempts.
But this new-look format has dealt them the cruellest of hands with Manchester United, Tottenham, Lyon and Olympiacos all still lying in wait.
Up first was a trip to Sweden where old foes Malmo were keen to pile on the early season misery.
After failing to reach the Champions League group stages, Rangers have already fallen five points behind Celtic in the league.
Results have improved of late, but without a chairman and chief executive, Gers are still a million miles from where they need to be.
Yet Clement – who was this week given the full backing and support of interim chairman John Gilligan – was hoping to fully ignite his side’s season with victory in Sweden.
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McCausland celebrates
With Jefte suspended and Ridvan Yilmaz injured, the Gers boss opted to hand a first start to Neraysho Kasanwirjo at left-back.
A passport problem meant Hamza Igamane hadn’t travelled.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Diomande came in for Dujon Sterling.
Rangers should have been out of sight as they headed up the tunnel at half-time.
Malmo had offered next to nothing with Gers blowing a series of golden chances after their dream start.
The match wasn’t a minute old when Dessers latched onto Gabriel Busanello’s hopelessly short back pass.
The Nigerian should have scored himself, but thankfully for him, Bajrami was following in to tap home the rebound after Dessers’ effort had struck the post.
Jack Butland was a bit too casual at the other end but Kasanwirjo was alert enough to get across and spare his keeper’s blushes.
Isaac Thelin had the ball in the net moments later – only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
From then on, it was all about Rangers.
With 26 minutes on the clock, Bajrami cut inside, shooting straight at Malmo keeper Johan Dahlin.
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Glasgow Rangers’ English defender James Tavernier vies for the ball with Malmo’s Taha AliCredit: AFP
Dessers failed to gather a Tom Lawrence pass before Vaclav Cerny blew the best chance of the half.
Dessers did brilliantly to flick the ball into the path of Bajrami.
His first time pass split the Malmo defence. Cerny, with only the keeper to beat, shot wide.
The Czech international simply had to score.
Bajrami then forced Dahlin into another fine save before he combined again with Dessers.
The latter did well to find Bajrami in space. The shot was on, but instead he tried to play in his teammate and another glorious chance for Gers had come and gone.
You just hoped Clement’s men wouldn’t live to regret it.
Malmo had been poor in the first half – they couldn’t possibly be as bad in the second.
The hosts certainly began on the front foot, winning a series of free-kicks in dangerous areas.
Thelin should have done better, heading past from close range with 51 minutes gone.
Clement’s men had been given time and space in the first 45, but Malmo were now showing much more aggression.
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Lasse Berg Johnsen was next to try his luck, dragging his shot inches past Butland’s right hand post.
Anders Christiansen then blasted over with the goal gaping – Gers were living dangerously.
But after weathering the storm they then passed up another incredible chance to kill off their hosts.
Bajrami was again the provider with Dessers this time blazing high and wide with the Malmo goal at his mercy,
It was arguably the miss of the lot.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Gers fans must have been fearing the worst until sub McCausland burst clear in the very next attack.
Digging the ball out of his feet he finished superbly in off the post to finally make the points safe for Rangers.
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 13:13:00
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