RANGERS will face hosts AC PAOK this Sunday with the chance to take a significant step towards the group stages of the Champions League after Malky Thomson’s side produced a composed performance to defeat Ferencvaros 3-1.
This was the Glaswegians’ first foray into Europe in the club’s history but you wouldn’t have known it from the assured display put in by the Scottish champions. It was a night of firsts for Rangers: first European fixture; first European goal; and, most satisfyingly of all, a first victory.
The contest at the Katerini Stadium, the first round of a mini-tournament in the Greek city, got under way at a frenetic pace as both side aimed to seize the initiative. Ferencvaros enjoyed a fair bit of the ball but attacks often broke down in the attacking third, where the aggressive Rangers defence were waiting to meet them. An early corner for the Hungarian champions caused some concern but the Scots were able to eventually clear the ball to safety.
Rangers grew into the game, though, and it wasn’t long before they started to exert a little pressure of their own. Central defender Hannah Davison was a composed head on the ball while her partner at the back, captain Kathryn Hill, went close when she connected with a corner from Finnish winger Jenny Danielsson on 11 minutes.
Just as pressure was starting to build, Rangers were presented with a golden opportunity. Kayla McCoy received the ball in the Ferencvaros box with her back to goal from a throw-in, and the forward used her frame well to shield the ball. A drop of the shoulder later and McCoy had cleverly drawn a foul from her opponent; referee Jurgita Macikunyte pointed to the spot. Danielsson, making her Champions League debut, kept her cool to calmly slot the ball into the bottom right corner.
That goal gave Thomson’s team a welcome boost as they started to knock the ball about with a sense of confidence. Ferencvaros rarely ventured forward with any real sort of threat, while the chances mounted for Rangers.
A well-worked move down the right saw the ball eventually teed up invitingly for Tessel Middag, but the midfielder’s curled effort from 25 yards was held by the Ferencvaros goalkeeper. Barely a minute later, a wonderful one-two between Samantha Kerr and McCoy resulted in the former having a decent attempt at goal, but her effort lacked the sufficient power to seriously trouble the keeper.
Less than 60 seconds had elapsed when again, Rangers came within inches of doubling their advantage. A low cross across the face of goal was begging to be touched in and although McCoy was waiting to pounce, a last-ditch intervention from the last defender resulted in a corner.
The Hungarians’ best two opportunities of the first half fell the way of Viktoria Szabo and on both occasions she really should have done better. Twice she was found in space making a late run down the left wing and into the box unopposed: on the first occasion she blazed the ball harmlessly over the bar; on the second, she drilled the ball into the side netting at the near post.
Sazbo’s profligacy would prove costly for Ferencvaros within minutes of the restart as Danielsson grabbed her second of the evening. Driving forward down the right, she advanced menacingly into the box, cutting inside to create an angle before drilling rifling the ball into the far bottom corner.
Ferencvaros were handed a lifeline as the game approached the hour-mark but the Hungarians failed to grasp it. An excellent delivery into the box from deep was brought down nicely by player-manager Fanni Vago, but the forward’s lunged finish from close range saw the ball trundle wide of the near post.
They were down but not out. Centre-forward Kinga Sikler was next to have a go as some space opened up on the edge of the Rangers box, but there was too much power on the shot as the ball flew narrowly over Victoria Essen’s crossbar.
It was a warning that wasn’t heeded and a few minutes later Sikler reduced the deficit. The powerful striker burst clear of the Rangers backline before coolly slotting the ball past Essen and into the bottom corner to give her side hope with 24 minutes to go.
Substitute Brogan Hay then sealed the win for Rangers with 88 minutes played as she seized upon a loose ball on the edge of the Ferencvaros area, weaving her way past two defenders before slotting the ball home. PAOK, who defeated Swansea 2-0 thanks to a brace from Eva Vasiliki Vlassopoulos earlier in the day, await on Sunday.
