Rangers 2 – 1 Stuttgart

Rangers opened there Champions League campaign with a hard fought victory over German champions VFB Stuttgart. In a grouped dubbed “The Group of Death” to stand any chance of qualifying we would have to get something from our home games and Rangers didn’t disappoint.

It’s the day after the night before, and to say my throat is sore would be understatement of the year!

In Ibrox there was a clear sense of anxiety as a lot of fans had doubts if Rangers could compete with the reigning Bundesliga champions and as you entered the stadium the first thing that hit you was the noise of the travelling fans. Stuttgart had at least 3,000 fans in the away end and you could tell the fancied there chances.

Rangers fielded a relatively defensive team, lining up with a 4-5-1 formation with Charlie Adam and Brahim Hemdani recalled to add some strength to the centre of midfield.

McGregor

Hutton Weir Cuellar Papac

Hemdani

Whittaker Ferguson (c) Thomson Adam

Darcheville

Straight from the kick off Stuttgart came flying out of the traps and Cuellar managed to clear a very dangerous ball into box out for a corner with the aid of McGregors near post!

There were a few other half chances for both sides with Adam, Ferguson and Darcheville all having decent attempts in at goal, before Darcheville was put clean through……

Ferguson played the ball to Darcheville on the half way line and he managed to spin his defender and charge towards goal, Meira was in close pursuit and done just enough enough to force Darcheville wide and his shot was well saved by the keeper.

The teams went of at halftime with the score 0-0 in what was proving to be a very close game.

At the start of the second half Rangers were dominant, but after Barry Ferguson was carried off fro treatment Stuttgart scored the opener. A cross played in was neatly poked home by Gomez at the near post. 1-0 Stuttgart.

This only seemed to take Rangers into another gear and 6minutes later Charlie Adam grabbed an equaliser with a fantastic goal! Alan Hutton was becoming a real threat for Rangers and Stuttgart didn’t know how to deal with him, The full-back was the driving force behind the equaliser, with another great surge to the edge of the penalty area he slipped the ball to Adam, who cut inside a defender and curled a sweet strike into the far corner of the net 1-1.
Rangers were now a lot more creative and Steven Whittaker missed what can only be called a sitter as he fired well wide after being played into the box one on one with keeper.
Then Alan Hutton, man of the match, picked up the ball again from the RB position….
He played the ball past two Stuttgart players before laying the ball inside to Whittaker, who played a lovely through ball for Hutton as he charged towards the goal. Meira came across and swung his boot trying to clear the ball but Hutton managed to steal in ahead of him and Miera instead booted Hutton inside the box, Penalty to Rangers. Darcheville stepped up and hammered the ball home.
Rangers then sat back a bit and DaMarcus Beasley came on for a jaded Whittaker and almost straight away was put through on goal, his pace allowing him to breeze past the defenders and onto to Fergusons ball but his shot was well saved by the Stuttgart keeper again.
There was then a quiet period in the last 5mins with Rangers looking to run down the clock and Stuttgart didn’t have an answer. The final score was Rangers 2 Stuttgart 1.

Category: Team News

Tags: Champions League, Rangers, Stuttgart, Team News

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