Post by Taxigirl on Dec 9, 2005 8:58:20 GMT
soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=188831&cc=5739
Peter Lovenkrands (38)
Leite Adriano (30)
Rangers wrote their names into the history books tonight when they became the first Scottish club to progress beyond the Champions League group stages.
The Scottish champions battled out a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan after Peter Lovenkrands cancelled out Adriano's header.
But events at Ibrox proved irrelevant after the other group match between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto ended goalless, allowing Rangers to join Inter in the knockout stages.
The win may not be enough to save under-pressure manager Alex McLeish's job, but it should at least provide him something to cheer.
Despite a dismal Bank of Scotland Premier League season so far, Rangers knew they had a chance to make history for all the right reasons and they could not have asked to be in a better position heading into this game.
Inter were already confirmed as Group H winners and, with a crucial Serie A derby against rivals AC Milan to look forward to, Roberto Mancini opted to leave eight star names at home.
With Marcello Ze Maria, Julio Cruz, Alvaro Recoba, Ivan Cordoba, Luis Figo, Kily Gonzalez, Dejan Stankovic and Juan Sebastian Veron all back in Milan, only Adriano remained in the side following their 1-0 win over Ascoli at the weekend.
That meant Rangers were effectively facing a team of reserves but the size of the occasion, and what was at stake, appeared to affect the players early on and they were guilty of making too many stray passes.
It was the Nerazzurri who had the first shot at goal when Santiago Solari tried his luck from the edge of the area but Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus was not troubled.
At the other end of the park, Rangers came close when Chris Burke whipped the ball into the path of Hamed Namouchi in front of goal but, the Tunisian was overpowered by Marco Andreolli, who cleared the danger.
Rangers then appealed for a penalty when a Namouchi cross appeared to come off the elbow of Nicolas Burdisso, but the Austrian referee ignored the pleas.
But it was Waterreus who was left plucking the ball out of the net with 30 minutes gone.
Adriano stepped off his marker to connect with a Sinisa Mihajlovic corner in a packed goalmouth and head home the opener from six yards.
Undeterred, Rangers were back on level terms with 38 minutes gone. Thomas Buffel released Lovenkrands with a superb ball and the Dane raced into the box before keeping his cool to slot past goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos was the first player of the game to be booked after 64 minutes for hauling down Obafemi Martins.
Mihajlovic stepped up for the resultant free-kick but his 35-yard effort was comfortably held by the Rangers goalkeeper.
Lovenkrands could have added to his tally when he met a Barry Ferguson pass, after skipping past Mihajlovic, but his curling effort was easily held by the Inter Milan goalkeeper.
David Pizarro and Marvin Andrews were both then booked in quick succession, as the game grew increasingly scrappy.
But it was Cristiano Zanetti who paid the price for an earlier caution when he picked up a second yellow card with three minutes to go for a challenge on Buffel.
It was not enough to help Rangers win the game but, in the end, it did not matter as news filtered through that the other match between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto had ended goalless - sending the Ibrox club through to the final 16.
Peter Lovenkrands (38)
Leite Adriano (30)
Rangers wrote their names into the history books tonight when they became the first Scottish club to progress beyond the Champions League group stages.
The Scottish champions battled out a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan after Peter Lovenkrands cancelled out Adriano's header.
But events at Ibrox proved irrelevant after the other group match between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto ended goalless, allowing Rangers to join Inter in the knockout stages.
The win may not be enough to save under-pressure manager Alex McLeish's job, but it should at least provide him something to cheer.
Despite a dismal Bank of Scotland Premier League season so far, Rangers knew they had a chance to make history for all the right reasons and they could not have asked to be in a better position heading into this game.
Inter were already confirmed as Group H winners and, with a crucial Serie A derby against rivals AC Milan to look forward to, Roberto Mancini opted to leave eight star names at home.
With Marcello Ze Maria, Julio Cruz, Alvaro Recoba, Ivan Cordoba, Luis Figo, Kily Gonzalez, Dejan Stankovic and Juan Sebastian Veron all back in Milan, only Adriano remained in the side following their 1-0 win over Ascoli at the weekend.
That meant Rangers were effectively facing a team of reserves but the size of the occasion, and what was at stake, appeared to affect the players early on and they were guilty of making too many stray passes.
It was the Nerazzurri who had the first shot at goal when Santiago Solari tried his luck from the edge of the area but Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus was not troubled.
At the other end of the park, Rangers came close when Chris Burke whipped the ball into the path of Hamed Namouchi in front of goal but, the Tunisian was overpowered by Marco Andreolli, who cleared the danger.
Rangers then appealed for a penalty when a Namouchi cross appeared to come off the elbow of Nicolas Burdisso, but the Austrian referee ignored the pleas.
But it was Waterreus who was left plucking the ball out of the net with 30 minutes gone.
Adriano stepped off his marker to connect with a Sinisa Mihajlovic corner in a packed goalmouth and head home the opener from six yards.
Undeterred, Rangers were back on level terms with 38 minutes gone. Thomas Buffel released Lovenkrands with a superb ball and the Dane raced into the box before keeping his cool to slot past goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos was the first player of the game to be booked after 64 minutes for hauling down Obafemi Martins.
Mihajlovic stepped up for the resultant free-kick but his 35-yard effort was comfortably held by the Rangers goalkeeper.
Lovenkrands could have added to his tally when he met a Barry Ferguson pass, after skipping past Mihajlovic, but his curling effort was easily held by the Inter Milan goalkeeper.
David Pizarro and Marvin Andrews were both then booked in quick succession, as the game grew increasingly scrappy.
But it was Cristiano Zanetti who paid the price for an earlier caution when he picked up a second yellow card with three minutes to go for a challenge on Buffel.
It was not enough to help Rangers win the game but, in the end, it did not matter as news filtered through that the other match between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto had ended goalless - sending the Ibrox club through to the final 16.