Fußball ist so schön einfach. Und so, wie soll ich sagen, unmittelbar. Für jeden verständlich. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit wird deutlich, ob wir einen genialen Moment oder einen fatalen Fehlpass erleben, ob ein Dribbling großartig oder stümperhaft, der Hackentrick pfiffig oder fahrlässig, der Abschluss sensationell oder einfach eigensinnig ist. Und einen Befreiungsschlag erkennt selbst der uninteressierte Laie auf Anhieb als solchen.

Etwas schwieriger wird es, wenn man das Ganze eine Ebene höher hebt, wenn der Befreiungsschlag nicht nur für eine konkrete Spielsituation, sondern im Idealfall für eine ganze Saison gelten soll. Zumindest mir fällt es dann schwer, aus der Situation heraus unmittelbar zu erkennen, ob der vermeintliche Befreiungsschlag tatsächlich geeignet ist, die Situation zu bereinigen, oder ob sie eben noch nicht geklärt ist. Bezieht man diese Frage auf den gestrigen Sieg des VfB Stuttgart in Glasgow, lässt sich sicherlich feststellen, dass Markus Babbel Gelegenheit bekommen hat, etwas Luft zu holen, dass sich die Mannschaft neues Selbstvertrauen geholt hat, und dass natürlich die Chancen in der Champions League intakt sind. Dennoch würde ich persönlich zögern, von einem nachhaltigen (Buzzword Bingo?) Befreiungsschlag zu sprechen. Ein Teil der Qualitätsmedien ist weniger zurückhaltend:

Tatsächlich spricht manches dafür, dass es sich um einen Befreiungsschlag handeln könnte. Erstmals war man in der Lage, die eigene Schwächephase nach dem wie so oft guten Beginn auf eine knappe Viertelstunde vor der Pause zu beschränken, um danach endlich einmal weiter nach vorne zu spielen und so letztlich, anders als gegen Glasgow und bei Urziceni, den Vorsprung auszubauen. Mit Kuzmanovic ist nach langer Suche nun doch der Gomez-Nachfolger gefunden: er hat gleich viel gekostet wie Marica, ist aber torgefährlicher. Cacau füllt die Lücke auf der 10. Pogrebnyak strotzt mittlerweile vor Selbstvertrauen – Rudys Tor hat er großartig mit der Hacke vorbereitet. Lehmann hat die verloren geglaubte Aggressivität wiederentdeckt und grätscht auch mal mit beiden Beinen voraus, wenn längst abgepfiffen ist.

Ok, etwas ernsthafter:
Vieles war gut gestern, insbesondere die Entschlossenheit, sich die Butter nicht wieder vom Brot nehmen zu lassen. Mit den ersten Erfolgserlebnissen kam auch das Selbstvertrauen für Ansätze zum Kombinationsspiel und die eine oder andere Einzelaktion zurück. Defensive Harakiri-Aktionen waren bis auf Pogrebnayks verheerenden Querpass, der beinahe zum Ausgleich geführt hätte, Mangelware. Das 2:0 kann man mit etwas Wohlwollen sogar als schnellen Gegenangriff nach einem am eigenen Tor abgefangenen Ball walten – wann hat man so etwas zuletzt gesehen? Die Abwehr stand souverän, im Mittelfeld war man mit Träsch und Kuzmanovic defensiv kompakt und hatte dennoch genügend Inspiration, nach vorne etwas zu bewegen. Ob das gegen stärkere Gegner als die Rangers bereits reicht, bleibt allerdings abzuwarten, zumal erneut keiner der eingesetzten Stürmer traf.

Sebastian Rudy? Zu ihm ist aktuell das meiste gesagt. Was mich absolut beeindruckt, ist seine enorme Ruhe am Ball, auch wenn man sie in der einen oder anderen Situation als Phlegma auszulegen geneigt ist. Für einen 19-Jährigen ganz außergewöhnlich, finde ich.

Die aufmerksame Leserin mag bemerkt haben, dass ich nicht so recht weiß, wie ich das Spiel einordnen soll. Einerseits habe ich mich über den hochverdienten Sieg und das Spiel des VfB außerordentlich gefreut und will auf anhaltende Besserung hoffen. Andererseits waren die Rangers einfach erschreckend schwach, sodass man nicht der Versuchung erliegen sollte, plötzlich alles in den hellsten Farben und höchsten Tönen darzustellen.

Aber am Sonntag wird erst einmal das Kanonenfutter aus Leverkusen hergespielt.

Ganz klar, im Fußball sind Tore das Salz in der Suppe.

Am 26. September erzielte der VfB Stuttgart derer drei und gewann das Spiel in Frankfurt.
Gestern, am 24. November, erzielte der VfB zwei Tore in Glasgow und gewann das Spiel.

Zwischen diesen beiden Siegen lagen zwei Monate mit insgesamt 10 Pflichtspieleinsätzen, in denen der VfB es jeweils nicht schaffte mehr als ein mickriges Törchen zu erzielen (4x sogar nicht mal das) und nahezu logischerweise auch keinen einzigen Sieg.

Was lernen wir daraus? Vermutlich dies: Schießt Du Tore, gewinnst Du Spiele.

So einfach ist Fußball. Wahrscheinlich.

Das Spiel in Glasgow lief dabei lustigerweise wieder mal so ab, wie es viele Spiele in der letzten Zeit. Stuttgart legt stark los, dominiert die erste halbe Stunde, baut dann etwas ab, lässt dem Gegner mehr Raum für gefährliche Chancen. Nur eben mit dem Unterschied, dass diesmal in Minute 16 die Flanke von Hleb zwar wieder mal vom Stürmer (Pogrebnyak) verstolpert wird, aber diesmal Sebastian RudyRudyRudyRudy dahinter steht und das Ding reinmacht. RudyRudyRudyRudy war es dann auch noch mal nach einer knappen Stunde, der die perfekte Flanke auf Kuzmanovic reinbrachte, der dann zum Endstand einköpfte und damit nun 3 der letzten vier Pflichtspieltore von uns erzielt hat – typischer Horst Heldt-Fehleinkauf halt.

Was bedeutet der Sieg nun? In erster Linie natürlich die Sicherheit, dass wir auch im Februar noch im internationalen Geschäft sein werden, da durch den Sieg der dritte Platz in der CL-Gruppe sicher ist. Ob es aber “nur” Europa League oder doch weiterhin Champions League sein wird, das wird sich in zwei Wochen entscheiden, wenn es im finalen Gruppenspiel gegen Urziceni geht. Die haben leider ganz überraschend durch ein unfassbares Eigentor von Sevilla gewonnen (Wettbetrug anyone? just kidding…) – was allerdings nur ändert, dass ein Unentschieden eben diesmal nicht ausreicht, sondern gewonnen werden muss. Was andererseits halt aus psychologischer Sicht vielleicht nicht unbedingt schlechter ist. Wobei natürlich die Aufgabe gegen aller Voraussicht nach sehr tief stehende Rumänen nicht gerade so richtig leicht werden dürfte, denn da sind wir wieder beim Thema: Tore müssen her!

Der Sieg von gestern ist hoffentlich auch eine Art Initialzündung, die im Team für etwas positive Belebung sorgt. Schade ist natürlich, dass ausgerechnet Kuzmanovic aufgrund einer, laut kicker unberechtigten, Gelb-Roten im Duell mit Leverkusen fehlt, aber das ist dann natürlich auch die Chance für unseren eigentlichen Kapitän Hitzlsperger -heute nicht in der Startelf- zu zeigen, dass er nach wie vor wichtig fürs Team ist und seinen Platz verdient hat. Denn insgesamt hat die Mannschaft selbst mit dem von mir nicht präferierten Ein-Spitzen-System sehr gut funktionieret.

Lehmann steht ja sportlich sowieso ausserhalb jeglicher Diskussion und auch die Abwehr insgesamt scheint sich mittlerweile doch sehr gefangen zu haben – halbwegs egal in welcher Besetzung. Denn bei all der Kritik über die miese Chancenverwertung vorne, steht die Mannschaft defensiv in der Regel ziemlich gut und hat in den letzten sieben Begegnungen nie mehr als einen Gegentreffer kassiert.
Im Mittelfeld sollte sich nun Sebastian Rudy endgültig ins Team gespielt haben und damit vielleicht das Vakuum füllen, dass die seit zwei Jahren fehlende Form von Hilbert hinterlassen hat. Fehlende Form war auch lange ein Problem von Hleb in dieser Saison, der aber heute und auch am Samstag etwas ansteigende Tendenz hat erkennen lassen.

Eine positive Erscheinung war zudem Cacau, dem es scheinbar gut tat, etwas zurückgezogen zu spielen und so mehr Raum zu haben, so dass über ihn eine Vielzahl von Angriffen lief. Lediglich Pogrebnyak trübte das Gesamtbild leider etwas – wieder mal stets bemüht, aber wieder mal glücklos, wie Gomez im Nationalmannschaftstrikot…

Ich bin gespannt wie es weiter geht mit unser aller Lieblingstruppe.

Rangers 2 VfB Stuttgart 2

When Rangers visited Stuttgart back in September the Bundesliga side agreed to bring a youth side to take on Rangers on the morning of the return game. This is a fantastic development and hopefully the first of many such games, perhaps it is something UEFA might consider including  before some if not all Champions League ties. The game was at the 15’s/16’s age group, with the Rangers squad  in the main under 15’s with a couple a year older and a couple a year younger. Unfortunately the West of Scotland weather meant the game had to be moved from grass to the astroturf pitch at Murray Park and was played over three thirty minute periods.

The Ibrox youngsters  got of to the perfect start, taking the lead in the first minute. Good work wide on the right by Charlie Telfer gave him the space to get in a cross from the byline to find Callum McConnell who fired home from just outside the six yard box. Just over ten minutes and a great move from left to right saw the ball go from Darren McGill  to Andy Murdoch via Callum McConnell and Frankie Owens, Charlie Telfer met Murdoch’s cross at the near post and his effort was deflected on to the post and wide.

Halfway through the first period the Stuttgart youngsters were starting to get their passing game going and their first chance ended with a shot straight at Blair Currie. A minute later they were denied by a fine save by the Rangers keeper, blocking with his legs at close range. At this stage Rangers were finding it difficult to retain possession and the visitors missed another chance when Currie made a comfortable save. It was no surprise when Stuttgart equalised on 24 minutes, a pass through the centre sent their striker through and he ran on to shoot past Currie.

The second period saw no real goal scoring chances although the visitors probably just edged it in term or possession and territorial advantage. Eight minutes into the third period Rangers regained the lead with a well worked goal. Ciaran Summers played the ball in from the left, a neat flick from Danny Hutchinson was dummied by Andy Murdoch and Blair Munn gave the keeper no chance from the edge of the box.

The lead was short lived however and a minute later a good passing move down the right saw the Stuttgart youngster clear inside the penalty area to beat substitute keeper Sam George and tie the scores. From then on the game could have gone either way with Rangers coming closest with ten minutes remaining. A cross from the right by Danny Hutchinson was met on the volley by Charlie Telfer only to see his effort rebound from the post.

Full Time:- Rangers 2 VfB Stuttgart 2

Overall a draw was probably a fair result in what was a great experience for the youngsters. I am sure both sides would have learnt something playing against a side from a different football culture. I look forward to similar initiatives in the future.

Rangers Squad :- Blair Currie, Sam George, Dylan Dykes, Greg Pescezio, Stuart Urquhart, Jordan Wilson, Andy Murdoch, Frankie Owens, Michael Mosson, Darren McGill, Callum McConnell, Charlie Telfer, Blair Munn, Ciaran Summers, Jack Donaldson, Danny Hutchinson, Blair Spittal.

Rangers 3 St. Mirren 1

A Rhys McCabe double went a long way to securing the points for Billy Kirkwood’s Under 19’s this afternoon. With Murray Park passing a morning inspection it saw Rangers line up with three changes to the team that win the cup tie at Pittodrie a fortnight ago. Gregg Wylde, Gordon Dick and Dylan McGeough coming in to replace Ewan McNeil, Scott Durie and Kamil Wilktorski.

It was a great start for the youngsters taking the lead as early as the fourth minute. Gordon Dick was fouled just outside the box and Rhys McCabe stepped up to fire a tremendous strike past Jake Cunningham in the St.Mirren goal. St.Mirren first threatened on 18 minutes when Darren Cole allowed a long ball to go over his head giving Fraser Team a chance but Gregg Wylde blocked at the expense of a corner.

On 22 minutes Kyle Hutton played the ball through and Cunningham was quick from his line to beat Archie Campbell to the ball. Campbell then had a chance on the half hour mark when through on a Grant Adam clearance, his attempted lob over the advancing Cunningham drifted wide.

A couple of minutes later saw St.Mirren’s best chance of the half. Fraser Team crossed from the right to the unmarked Kenny McLean who tried to head over Adam, but his effort lacked height and the keeper saved comfortably. Straight to the other end and Cunningham denied Kane Hemmings  with a fine block with his legs after the striker was played in by Kyle Hutton.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 St.Mirren 0

Two goals in as many minutes sealed the points for Rangers early in the second half. On 52 minutes Dick played the ball into the box from the right, a great first touch from Rhys McCabe gave him a chance, he miss hit his first attempt but prodded the ball past Cuuningham when the it broke to him of the defender. A minute later Cunningham saved at the feet of Hemmings as he chased a through ball, only to see the ball break to Dylan McGeough who side-stepped the keeper and scored with ease.

To the visitors credit they pulled a goal back two  minutes later. A free kick swung in from the left was headed back across goal where Fraser Team found the net from close range.  On 64 minutes Rangers had a similar chance to McLean’s first half effort for St. Mirren. A McCabe cross from the saw Campbell attempt to head over keeper Cunningham, but like McLean’s it lacked height and the keeper saved.

With quarter an hour remaining McGeough set up the overlapping Wylde and keeper Cunningham did well to divert the ball wide with his legs. St. Mirren then had a chance with a free-kick on 85 minutes, Adam saving John McShane’s shot from just outside the box. The last effort came in the final minute when Hutton played through substitute Max Wright who’s shot from a tight angle brought out a fine save from Cunningham.

Full Time:- Rangers 3 St.Mirren 1

Rangers:- Grant Adam; Rhys McCabe, Chris Scott, Darren Cole; Kyle Hutton, Gordon Dick, Jamie Ness, Dylan McGeough; Archie Campbell (Max Wright 87 mins), Kane Hemmings

Not Used:- Mark Weir, Kyle McAusland, Nicky Main, Anthony Marenghi, Christiano Kisuka

St.Mirren:- Jake Cunningham; Mark McLennan, Rhys Devlin, Dominic Kennedy, Ally Love (No.16 69 mins); Fraser Team (no 14 77 mins),Kyle Faulds, Kenny McLean, Sean Burns; John McShane, Graeme Ramage (no 12 58  mins)

]]> http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/aussies-visit-murray-park/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:28:36 +0000 elfideldo http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/aussies-visit-murray-park/

Rangers 5 Melbourne Stars 0

Rangers Under 17’s took on Australian visitors Melbourne Stars at Murray Park this afternoon. It was a return visit for the Aussies, having beaten a Rangers side 3-0 on a visit last year.

Melbourne Football Stars are an organisation that provides Melbourne’s elite Youth players with an opportunity to travel to Scotland & England to gain an insight into the world of professional Football. Today’s game saw them take on a much more recognisable Rangers Under 17 side than last year.

After a quiet opening period where Rangers dominated possession, the home side took the lead. Dylan McGeough set up Lee Cochrane with a chance at the edge of the box, his first effort was blocked but when the ball came back to him he sent it into the top right hand corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.

Rangers doubled their lead on the half hour, Anthony Marenghi sent Christiano Kisuka clear on the right hand side of the box and his ball across the six yard box gave Lee Cochrane a simple tap in for his second goal. Five minutes later and Melbourne had what proved to be their only real chance of the game. A ball in from the right broke to the No. 9 on the six yard box but his shot past the post.

On the stroke of half time Rangers when three up with a fantastic solo effort. Christiano Kisuka picked the ball up 40 yards out, his run to the edge of the box took him past three defenders where he shot low past the keeper.

Half Time :- Rangers 3 Melbourne Stars 0

The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Rangers scored again. Another Marenghi pass sent Kisuka clear, this time on the left, and again his ball across goal set up a simple tap in , this time for substitute Callum McConnell.

There was no further scoring until the final minute, when Lee Cochrane, who had come back on to replace the injured Callum McConnell, latched on to a Frankie Owens pass to shoot across the keeper and into the net to complete his hat-trick.

The Australian youngsters now go on to play Hibs, Dundee United, Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers. I hope they enjoyed their game at Murray Park today and wish them luck in the rest of their games.

Full Time:- Rangers 5 Melbourne Stars 0

Rangers:- Blair Currie; Frankie Owens, Kyle McCausland, Michael Noble, Michael Mosson; Nicky Main, Dylan McGeough (Darren McGill 46 mins), Steven Hetherington, Anthony Marenghi; Christiano Kisuka, Lee Cochrane (Callum McConnell 46mins).

How many of you know the player pictured above, not many I bet. It is of course Andy Milne, Rangers sole representative at the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Nigeria. It saddens me to say that the club has not felt that Andrew’s achievement has  been worth even the smallest mention on the Official website. So I will try and do it justice in a little post on the blog.

A few of you may have seen Andy in last season’s Glasgow Cup Final victory over Celtic at Broadwood, where he had an excellent game at left back.  In the month before that game Andrew was part of the New Zealand side that won the Oceania Under 17’s Championship, scoring in each of his country’s three games. This victory meant they had qualified for World Finals in Nigeria.

The Kiwis were drawn in the same group as Costa Rica, Burkina Faso and Turkey. First up was the Central Americans and New Zealand took the lead after 19 minutes, Andy holding the ball up and fending off several defenders to set up Michael Built who blasted home. The Costa Ricans equalised in the first half, and with the second half being goalless it was a creditable start for the New Zealand side.

In their second match they were up against it, going a goal down to Barkina Faso and struggling to get out of their own half. Keeping the score at 1-0 proved to be essential when in a rare attack skipper Gordon Murie got his head to a free -kick to glance the ball home. Just after the hour mark an incredible downpour gave the referee no option but to take the players from the field. This may have helped the Kiwis, as when the game resumed almost two hours later, they managed to hold out to record their second 1-1 draw.

The final group match was against  the group favourites Turkey, but a positive was the Turks had won their two games and had already qualified for the next phase, so left out four of their regular starters for this game. The Turkish side were still the dominant team and took an early lead in the first half. Once again the New Zealand side showed their great spirit and hung in there. Just when it looked like they would suffer their first defeat an injury time wonder strike from Jack Hobson-McVeigh gave them their third 1-1 draw and a place in the next round as one of the top third placed sides, a fantastic achievement for a New Zealand soccer team.

The last 16 saw them up against the hosts Nigeria and it was a step too far for the young Kiwis. Down 2-0 after 25 minutes they never recovered and went on to lose a further three goals. Some consolation for them is that Nigeria are still in the tournament and face Spain in tomorrow’s semi final. From Andy Milne’s perspective the tournament was agreat success, playing every minute in all four games. The challenge now for Andrew is to kick on with his club career. With preparation and the tournament itself he has been away from Murray Park for a significant amount of time. I am sure he will have benefited from this experience and will be pushing for a starting place in the under 19’s in the coming months.

Footnote:- Andy wasn’t the only Scottish based player in the New Zealand squad, Jamie Doris who featured in three of the for games has recently signed  for Hibs.

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2

A late penalty ensured a nervy end for the Ibrox youngsters at Pittodrie this afternoon. Well in control for most of the game the converted spot kick lifted the home side but they failed to create another chance.There were two changes to the side that defeated Hibs last week,  Kyle Hutton was back from injury and Dylan McGeough dropped to the bench. With Gregg Wylde unavailable, sixteen year old Ewan McNeil came in for his debut at this level.

Rangers took the lead on nine minutes with the first effort on target in the game. A Rhys McCabe corner from the right was headed past keeper Scott Bain by the unmarked Kyle Hutton. Almost straight from the kick off the goalscorer lost possession 30 yards from goal to Nicky Low who then went past Chris Scott and shot narrowly over from the edge of the box.

That was a rare forray into the Rangers box and it was no surprise when Rangers increased their lead on 17 minutes. Kamil Wiktorski strode forward from midfield and played a one two with McCabe, who set the Polish youngster up perfectly to volley past Bain from just inside the box. Rangers were pretty much in control and the home side’s only other effort in the first half came when Stirling Smith shot over from long-range,  Grant Adam having the shot covered.

Half Time:-Aberdeen 0 Rangers 2

Aberdeen came out for the second half looking to make an impact and Callum McRobbie sent Low down the left and only a great challenge from Darren Cole cleared the danger from his low cross. On 57 minutes it was down the same flank that the home side threatened. Dean Jarvis, Low and McRobbie combined and Mitchell Megginson got a touch on the later’s cross, the ball  looped up towards the far post where Adam saved without too much difficulty.

On the hour mark Dylan McGeough was fouled wide on the right and from Ewan McNeil’s free kick McCabe headed powerfully goalwards but Bain reacted to save. Five minutes later Gilli Sorensen brought out a diving save from Adam when his cut inside Darren Cole.

With 10 minutes remaining a mixup between Chris Scott and Adam almost gave Megginson a chance, but the keeper and defender managed to scramble the ball clear. A couple of minutes later and McCabe went close again with a header, this time from a McGeough corner, his effort going just wide of the post with Bain beaten.

With three minutes of the ninety remaining Aberdeen where thrown an unlikely lifeline. Adam parried a Nicky Low shot from the edge of the box, the ball going to Jack Grimmer. With Aberdeen substitute running away from goal along the byline Adams challenge was unneccessary, but the Rangers keeper sent him tumbling for a clear penalty. Up stepped Mitchel Megginson and he was a little fortunate to see his weak shot squirm under keeper Adam.

This set up a nervy last few minutes, but with the home side failing to creat another chance the Ibrox youngsters progressed to the next round.

Full Time:- Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2

Aberdeen:- Scott Bain; Stirling Smith,Joe Shaughnessy, Scott Ross, Dean Jarvis; Gilli Sorensen (Jack Grimmer 84mins), Ryan Jack, Hallur Hannson (Clark Robertson 68 mins), Nicky Low; Callum McRobbie, Mitchel Megginson.

Not Used:- Prezmyslaw Lukasik, Anthony Bolger, Jordon Brown

Rangers:- Grant Adam; Ewan McNeil, Chris Scott, Scott Durie, Darren Cole; Kyle Hutton (Dylan McGeough 56mins), Rhys McCabe, Kamil Wiktorski, Jamie Ness; Archie Campbell, Kane Hemmings

Not Used:- Blair Currie, Kyle McAusland, Gordon Dick, Max Wright

Queen’s Park 1 Rangers 3

Friday night was an opportunity to taken in a game at the age group that falls between two development teams when Rangers took on Queen’s Park in an under 16 friendly at Lesser Hampden. It was the home side that took the lead after 8 minutes with an excellent goal. They broke down the right and when the ball was crossed it found its way to the angle of the penalty area, where the Queen’s left midfielder gave Sam George no chance with a superb strike.

On 2o minutes Rangers conceded a penalty when Michael Mosson impeded the attacker as he broke in to the box, Sam George saved the resultant penalty low to his left. Rangers then almost equalised straight away  when Frankie Owens fed George Scott who shot narrowly wide.

Just after the half hour mark a great piece of control by Lee Cochrane saw him shoot powerfully but straight at the keeper. A couple of minutes later Charlie Telfer played the ball inside to Cochrane who’s shot was saved, the ball broke to Callum McConnell but he delayed his effort and it was scrambled clear.

The equaliser came ten minutes before half time when Cochrane was fouled just outside the box and Stuart Urquhart stepped up to shoot low past the keeper. Right on the stroke of half time Cochrane sent McConnell through one on one with the keeper who made a fine block.

Half Time:- Queen’s Park 1 Rangers 1

Rangers took the lead two minutes after the break, a long ball sent Lee Cochrane down the left, he cut inside and shot past the keeper giving him no chance. Just before the hour Rangers had three chances within seconds of each other. First Telfer set up Cochrane who saw his shot saved, the ball broke to the edge of the box where George Scott sent a thundering shot against the bar, McConnell then stretched to send the rebound goalwards which the keeper managed to save at the second attempt.

On the hour Rangers hit the woodwork again when Cochrane played Telfer through, he poked the ball past the keeper only to see it rebound from the post. The next chance came when Urquhart met a Scott corner but the keeper made a fine diving save.

With twenty minutes remaining McConnell was again denied by the keeper when through.  Rangers could have payed for those missed chances when a Mosson slip gave Queen’s a chance but the shot was in to the side netting.

At the other end the keeper denied Urquhart a second goal from a free kick when he saved to his right after McConnell was  fouled just outside the box. With a minute remaining Callum McConnell got the goal his play deserved, controlling a cross from the left and shooting past the keeper.

Full Time:- Queen’s Park 1 Rangers 3

Rangers:- Sam George (Liam Kelly); Andy Murdoch, Michael Mosson, Stuart Urquhart, Jordan Wilson (Ciaran Summers); Charlie Telfer, Frankie Owens, George Scott, Darren McGill (Blair Munn);Lee Cochrane, Callum McConnell.

]]> http://fotbalromania.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/liga-campionilor-unirea-urziceni-glasgow-rangers-1-1/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:22:07 +0000 fotbalplus http://fotbalromania.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/liga-campionilor-unirea-urziceni-glasgow-rangers-1-1/

» Unirea Urziceni a terminat la egalitate, scor 1-1, intalnirea din etapa a 4-a a grupei G din Liga Campionilor. Prima Repriza a fost echilibrata cu ocazii pentru ambele echipe, Balan, Maftei, Frunza sau Onofras avand ocazii bune pentru Unirea, in timp ce pentru scotieni Naismith, Miller si McGregor l-au pus la grele incercari pe portarul Arlauskis. Partea secunda a inceput mai bine pentru Unirea care in minutul 55 a ratat o buna sansa prin Frunza, dar scotienii au replicat sapte minute mai tarziu prin Miller, insa Arlauskis s-a opus cu succes. In continuarea partida a fost echilibrata cu un plus pentru echipa noastra care a controlat mai mult jocul, dar cu toate acestea, in minutul 78, McCulloch a deschis scorul, cu un sut de la circa 25 de metri, sut care a lovit pamantul in fata lui Arlauskis, care nu a putut interveni. Unirea a fost la un pas de egalare la faza urmatoarea prin Onforas dar unul dintre fundasii oaspetilor a respins de pe linia portii. In minutul 88 Bilasco reuseste o frumusete de gol si astfel readuce egalarea pe tabela de marcaj. Unirea mai obtine un punct in Liga Campionilor si pastreaza sanse la calificare in optimile Ligii.

» Marcatori: Marius Onofras (1-1)(88′) / McCulloch (0-1)(78′)

» Unirea: Arlauskis – Bordeanu, Galamaz, Maftei, Brandan – Vilana (Paduretu, 81′) – Frunza, Apostol, Balan (Onofras, 28′), Varga (Semedo, 81′) – Bilasco. Antrenor: Dan Petrescu.

» Rangers: McGregor – Whittaker, Weir, D.Wilson, Papac – McCulloch – Naismith, Davis, Thomson (Fleck, 85′) – K.Miller (Novo, 82′), Lafferty. Antrenor: Walter Smith.

Sólo cuatro jornadas le han valido al Sevilla para clasificarse para los octavos de final de la Liga de Campeones. A priori, era el grupo más fácil para los equipos españoles, pero había que demostrarlo. Y además el conjunto de Jiménez lo pudo hacer con pleno de victorias, de no haber sido porque Duscher se lesionó con los cambios agotados y dejó al equipo en inferioridad. Justo antes de este hecho había marcado Navas, que probablemente diga hoy que quiere ir con la selección, y luego empató Kuzmanovic, objetivo sevillista este verano.

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Después del gran partido frente al Athletic, el Atlético demostró frente al Chelsea que su mejoría es cada vez más palpable. Tuvo el descaro de adelantarse en el marcador con un gol de Agüero, al que respondería Drogba con un doblete. Pero entonces, el astro argentino cogió la pelota en una falta al borde del área y la coló dentro de la meta de Cech. Eliminados ya de la Champions, toca ahora luchar con el APOEL por la Liga Europa.

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Esta claro que el Rubin Kazan se le ha atragantado al Barça, no ha sido capaz de ganarle ni en Barcelona ni en Kazan. Además queda la sensación de haber perdido dos puntos por el dominio de los blaugranas durante todo el partido. Ahora quedan terceros y lo tendrán más complicado con Inter y Dinamo de Kiev.

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¿En San Siro se vio al Madrid que quiere y busca Pellegrini? Si miramos la primera parte si, si miramos la segunda no. Parece que el técnico chileno ha encontrado el equipo estos dos últimos partidos, pero las bajas para el derbi le obligarán a cambiar de nuevo. El Milan por su parte, fue agobiado en los primeros 45 minutos, pero aún así, llegó al descanso con el empate de Ronaldinho al gol de Benzema. Los dos dependen de sí mismos para clasificarse.

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El Arsenal acaricia el pase a la siguiente ronda tras golear al AZ holandés. Yo creía que el equipo de Ronald Koeman plantaría más cara después del empate de la última jornada, pero el gran Cesc, con dos goles, desbarató todas las posibilidades tulipanes. Además también marcaron Nasri, Diaby y Lens.

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Menuda rabia que le tuvo que dar a los jugadores del CSKA cuando el Manchester U. les empató en el descuento. Los rusos se adelantaron en Old Trafford con un gol de Dzagoev, que empató en cuatro minutos Owen. Los rusos siguieron apretando y consiguieron dos goles más de las botas de Krasic y V. Berezutski, pero a falta de seis minutos para los noventa reglamentarios marcó Scholes y luego Valencia. Con este resultado los ingleses siguen primeros de grupo y los moscovitas terceros.

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Era la última oportunidad de clasificarse para el Liverpool y las bajas se volvieron a sentir. Los hombres de Benítez sólo pudieron empatar frente al O. Lyon y se queda a la espera de una carambola en su grupo. Y eso que marcaron en el 83 por medio de Babel, pero Lisando empató sobre la bocina. Si caen a la Liga Europa serán uno de los serios candidatos.

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Precisamente el equipo que le quitará el pase al Liverpool será la Fiorentina que arrolló en el Artemio Franchi al Debrecen. Parece que este año los violas si conseguiran pasar a los octavos. Los goles corrieron a cuenta de Mutu, Dainelli, Montolivo, Marchionni y Gilardino, por parte italiana, y de Rudolf y Coulibaly, por parte húngara.

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En este post ya he hablado de varias remontadas o empates en los últimos minutos, pero quizás una de las más destacas fue la que consiguió el Inter en Ucrania. El Dinamo de Kiev ya se veía líder del grupo F gracias al gol de Shevchenko, pero los interistas dieron la vuelta a la tortilla en apenas tres minutos, lo que transcurrió desde el gol de Milito hasta el de Sneijder. Ahora son los italianos los líderes del grupo y los ucranianos los colistas.

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La Juventus cumplió el objetivo en su visita al Maccabi, ganar. Y lo volvió a hacer por la mínima como la pasada jornada gracias a un gol de Camoranesi. Ahora tienen en sus manos el pase, les vale con ganar la próxima jornada al G. Burdeos. Los israelítas lo tienen difícil hasta para la Liga Europa.

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A un empate se ha quedado el Wolfsburgo de pasar a la siguiente ronda. Los de Veh golearon sin apuros al Besiktas, que menuda edición que se ha marcado de champions, gracias a los goles de Misimovic, Dzeko y Gentner. Lo mismo los alemanes dan algún susto en octavos de final.

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En el Allianz Arena se enfrentaron dos equipos con morales totalmente opuestas y eso se palpó en el resultado. El Girondins es primero en la Ligue 1 y ya esta clasificado para los octavos de final, por contra el Bayern es sexto en la Bundesliga y se queda tercero del grupo A, casi contra las cuerdas. Así que fuera esperada la victorias gala, donde marcaron las dos estrellas del equipo, Gourcuff y Chamakh.

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La goleada de la jornada se pudo ver en el Vélodrome de Marsella. El Olympique tenía que ganar sí o sí y abuso del modesto Zurich. Además tuvo la surte de empezar con un gol en propia meta de Aegerter, al que siguió Abriel, Niang, Hilton, Cheyrou y Brandão 90. Entremedias marcaría Alphonse el gol suizo de la honra.

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El resultado que eliminaba al Atlético de esta Champions era una posible victoria del Oporto, y los porgueses no fallaron. Era normal que ganaran al APOEL, pero les costó más de lo esperado ya que sólo ganaron por un gol de Falcao. Ahora a jugarse el primer puesto con el Chelsea.

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Estaba prácticamente muerto, pero resucitó. Me refieron al Standard de Lieja que de haber perdido frente al Olympiacos habría dicho adiós a la máxima competición continental. Mbokani y Jovanović fueron los encargados de devolver la ilusión a la afición belga, pero todavía lo tienen difícil, por lo menos más que su rival griego.

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Y para terminar, el Glasgow quería vendetta por la humillante derrota sufrida la pasada jornada a manos del Unirea, pero se quedó en el intento. Los escoceses se adelantaron en el marcador por medio de McCulloch, pero Onofras empató a falta de dos minutos. Con este resultado los rumanos siguen segundos del grupo y los escoceses últimos.

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Unirea Urziceni ramane pe locul 2 in grupa G, dupa remiza din Ghencea in fata scotienilor de la Glasgow Rangers. McCulloch a deschis scorul cu 10 minute inainte de final, Onofras aducand egalarea pentru Unirea in minutul 88.

Dupa victoria de vis din Scotia, cand Unirea Urziceni s-a impus cu un incredibil 4-1, Glasgow Rangers a venit in Romania pentru a-si lua revansa pe stadionul Stelei.

A fost o aparitie ciudata pentru suporterii obisnuiti in Ghencea sa-i vada pe scotieni in echipament ros-albastru, stelistilor prezenti in numar mare in tribune fiindu-le greu sa sustina echipa care joaca impotriva culorilor lor favorite.

Cu toate acestea, atmosfera a fost una foarte buna, animata atat de romanii care sustineau Urziceniul, cat si de cei aproape 2.000 de suporteri veniti din Scotia pentru a sustine pe Glasgow.

Unirea a avut un inceput bun de partida, fiind mai mereu prezenta in jumatatea adversa, dar fara sa reuseasca sa pericliteze buturile aparate de McGregor. Abia dupa un sfert de ora de joc au reusit scotienii sa echilibreze meciul si sa urce mai consistent in jumatatea de teren a ialomitenilor.

Dupa o semi-ocazie a lui Tibi Balan, care a avut primul sut pe spatiul portii al meciului, Arlauskis a avut primele emotii la un sut de la mare distanta, insa a tratat faza cu calm si a respins. Ialomitenii au replicat cu o faza in care Bordeanu a pasat la Frunza, acesta a centrat pentru Bilasco, dar atacantul a pierdut mingea in marginea careului mic.

Putin inainte de implinirea primei jumatati de ora a intalnirii, Onofras l-a inlocuit pe Tibi Balan, insa ocazia de gol a Unirii a venit de la fundasul Maftei, fostul capitan al Rapidului sutand violent din faza fixa de la distanta, insa portarul oaspetilor a fost pe faza.

A urmat o noua ratare a scotienilor pe contraatac, prin Miller, al carui sut periculos a fost parat de Arlauskis, faza fiind urmata de o mare ocazie de gol a gazdelor, dupa o actiune rapida a ialomitenilor, in care Varga a pasat de pe stanga pentru Frunza, acesta s-a intors rapid spre poarta, dar sutul sau deviat a fost scos in ultimul moment de McGregor.

Apropierea pauzei i-a facut pe elevii lui Dan Petrescu sa se grabeasca inexplicabil la aproape orice faza de atac. Astfel, atat Brandan, cat si Bilasco sau Frunza au incercat poarta adversa cu suturi de la peste 35 de metri, desi toate actiunile de atac le permiteau sa se apropie mai mult de poarta adversa.

Suturile de la distanta ale Unirii au continuat si dupa pauza, fara a crea mare pericol la poarta adversa. Pericolul a venit, insa, la poarta lui Arlauskis care in minutu 62 a aparat incredibil un sut trimis din apropiere de Miller, dupa o faza in care apararea Urziceniului a fost pacalita de Lafferty.

Cu un sfert de ora inainte de expirarea timpului regulamentar, Onofras putea deschide scorul, insa, dupa ce a preluat elegant la limita offside-ului, acesta a sutat la coltul scurt, acoperit bine de portarul scotienilor.

Dupa o alta ocazie mare a lui Bilasco, deschiderea de scor a venit impotriva cursului jocului la poarta lui Arlauskis, prins pe picior gresit de un sut cu dreptul de la distanta al lui McCulloch (79′), mingea muscand pamantul in fata portarului ialomitenilor.

Onofras putea egala in acelasi minut. Un contraatac rapid al Unirii pornit de la punctul de la mijlocul terenului l-a gasit pe Onofras nemarcat in dreapta careului advers. Insa, intrat in unghi inchis, jucatorul Urziceniului l-a driblat pe portar si a tras cu sete, mingea fiind scoasa cu capul de Wilson de pe linia portii.

Desi putini suporteri ai Urziceniului au fost prezenti in tribune, publicul fiind format din tot felul de spectatori pasionati de fotbal si sustinatori ai oricarei formatii romanesti, atmosfera a fost una spectaculoasa in minutele de final, cand intreg stadionul a incurajat trupa lui Dan Petrescu.

Si scandarile si aplauzele spectatorilor nu au ramas fara rezultat. Cu doua minute inainte de final, Marius Onofras a ridicat publicul in picioare cu un sut magnific din afara careului direct in vinclu, executie de senzatie care a adus punctul egalizator meritat de Unirea Urziceni.

Scottish football record.

Glasgow Rangers striker Kenny Miller scored five goals against St Mirren at Obrix Park, equaling a Scottish Premier League record for a single match. Dundee United’s Paul Sturrock also scored five against Morton in 1984.

Mass-media engleza a luat foc denuntand cearta cu legea a unui atacant din Premier League iar Marlon King a sfarsit la Stalpul Infamiei. Nu mai are ce cauta in fotbal, este verdictul la ordinea zilei, azvarlit cu bolovani colturosi din aproape toate directiile, mai putin doua.

Regele King a cazut de pe tron cu ultima nelegiuire dintr-un sir de fapte reprobabile comise intr-o cariera de plimbaret profesionist prin primele divizii din Albion. I-a crapat buza si i-a turtit nasul unei tinere, la o iesire hibernala intr-un bar de noapte londonez, pentru simplul motiv ca respectiva ii refuzase avansurile. Initial agresiv doar pe cale verbala, deja un fapt cotidian normal in Regatul Unit si nu numai, regele King s-a zdrobsit la tanara, intreband-o daca stie cumva cine este Maria Sa. “Stii cine sunt eu? Sunt un milionar. Oricum nu esti in liga mea!”

Intr-adevar, regele King era in Premier League, ultima oara la Wigan Athletic, care riscase sa-l achizitioneze, platindu-i 35.000 lire saptamanal. Tanara sigur nu era in Premier League. Marlon a fost insa demis de club, contractul anulat, iar soarta sa aduce cu cea a lui Mutu, imediat dupa extirparea la care era supus de Chelsea. Un paria nu doar fotbalistic, ci si social.

Evident, e jalnic ce-a facut tatal a trei copii, un individ bine platit, activand intr-o industrie ce se doreste a fi un exemplu de fair-play, dar de fapt pe zi ce trece tot mai slinoasa. Insa toti se inghesuie acum sa infiereze actiunea sa initiala, ce i-a adus trimiterea dupa gratii, pentru 18 luni. Nimeni n-a pus deloc sub semnul intrebarii cauzele, radacinile acestei triste stari de fapt.

King s-a deconspirat prin felul in care s-a autodefinit. Drept un - atentie! - milionar si nu un sportiv profesionist. Omul Marlon s-a identificat asadar cu banii pe care i-a castigat din fotbal si nu cu profesia pe care a ales s-o practice ori, mai simplu, cu eul sau ca fiinta umana. Eul sau a fost alterat si degradat la stadiul de suma cu sase zerouri iar exemplul sau e elocvent pentru societatea materialist-consumerista, obsedata de castig si parvenire, in care ne ducem zilele. Radacina raului, a atitudinii sale profund inumane, sfidatoare si lipsite de demnitate, sta tocmai in perceptia sa sifonata despre sine. King e un caz trist.  

As extinde problema, opinand ca la baza destulor actiuni reprobabile de pe teren si dinafara lui sta si aruncarea cu geamantanul cu bani in directia unor oameni cu un anumit nivel, nu prea inalt, de educatie si civilizatie. Sportivii profesionisti nu trebuie neaparat catalogati drept inculti ori needucati dar cu certitudine veniturile lor, comparativ cu ale cadrelor universitare sa zicem ori ale altor categorii socio-profesionale, sunt invers proportionale cu gradul de educatie si anii petrecuti cu “burta pe carte”. Fotbalistii sunt recipientii unor sume fabuloase pentru omul de rand, care sume insa nu le folosesc intru slefuirea lor educational-culturala, ci le abuzeaza aidoma oricarui “consumator fericit” din zilele noastre, pe nimicuri care sa le certifice in proprii ochi si ai “cetatii” un anumit statut social. 

Doldora de bani peste noapte, pentru abilitatea de a lovi mingea si a alerga, deci cu egoul umflat la maxim, unii isi pierd capul. Banul e afrodisiac puternic. Iar pe un fond educational subred, asemenea descindere in paradisul bancnotelor ii face sa creada ca totul li se cuvine. Inclusiv sufletul unor semeni de-ai lor. Unii sunt mai egali decat altii, in opinia unor fotbalisti profesionisti. Sunt de fapt doar rezultatul lacomiei, avaritiei din societatea moderna, ce extirpeaza sinele, dezumanizeaza, si ii transforma pe multi in simpli automatoni confundandu-se cu sumele pe care le incaseaza ori bunurile ce le detin. De acolo si pana la a crede ca li se cuvine si servitudinea neconditionata a unei alte fiinte umane, iata, a mai fost doar o fraza. Si niste lovituri.

Totusi, in aceasta cascada de oprobiu gazetaresc, doua capete limpezi au catat mai departe. Dupa cele 18 luni, spune mereu sfatosul Arsene Wenger, un intelept dandu-si cu parerea in mai toate cazurile, King ar trebui curtat de cluburile ce-i considera drept utile serviciile. Gordon Taylor l-a dublat, spunand ca breasla jucatorilor, Professional Footballers’ Association, il va asista si indruma in reabilitarea dupa serviciul de penitenta. Doua luari de pozitie de bun simt, care sugereaza ca unii ar fi trebuit sa gandeasca de doua ori inainte de a arunca piatra in directia regelui puscarias.

Exista oare agresori provenind din alte categorii sociale carora li s-a interzis dupa ispasirea pedepsei sa revina in breasla? De ce ar fi fotbalul mai alb ca albul, sa nu mai reprimeasca in teren un jucator ce sfarsise in spatele gratiilor pentru un atac fizic savarsit noaptea intr-un stabiliment din oras? De ce sa i se ia borcanul cu miere, fotbalul in cazul lui King, cand altora, in pozitii de forta si putere, nu li se interzice deloc continuarea carierelor, ba din contra, ajung sa “zboare si mai sus”, chiar si dupa decizii ori initiative soldate chiar cu pierderi de vieti omenesti? Cate asemenea cazuri nu sunt printre noi. Sau mai bine zis undeva mult deasupra noastra, sus, intr-o… alta liga.

Lacrimi dupa gratii, stropi mari si grei in iarba. Glasgow Rangers va descinde plouata la Bucuresti, si la propriu si la figurat. Desi in avantaj la pauza, gratie golului lui Davis pe Tannadice Park din Dundee, Gers s-a vazut nevoita sa inghita in sec in deplasarea la United, cand arbitrul a anuntat abandonarea jocului datorita inundarii suprafetei de joc. A plouat cu caini si pisici in Scotia si avantajul de 1-0 a fost scufundat. Rejucare, la o data ulterioara.

Faza s-a petrecut duminica, inaintea meciului din UEFA Champions League cu Unirea Urziceni, de la Bucuresti. Neplacere deloc convenabila in incercarea albastrilor de a surmonta starea de spirit zdruncinata de ultimele rezultate. Unirea i-a umilit, 4-1 pe Ibrox, dupa care Hibernian a descins in Glasgow si a egalat in ultimele clipe: 1-1. Ca tacamul sa fie complet, aceeasi Hibernian a marcat golurile succesului din weekend contra lui Aberdeen in minutele 88 si 90, cu care a depasit-o pe Rangers in clasament.

In plus, situatia financiara a Gersilor s-a subrezit atat de mult, incat se vorbeste inclusiv de intrarea clubului in administratie. Dar incurcate sunt caile vietii si tocmai asemenea circumstante pot starni leul ranit sa se zbarleasca fioros, intr-o tresarire de orgoliu. Unu ix doi.

La apa sunt si finantele Wembleyului, si apoi va las. Un stadion national dat in functiune mult mai tarziu decat limita de livrare si cu bugetul lucrarilor mult depasit, se relansase practic cu stangul, estimarile amintind de anul 2014 drept punct de cotitura, de trecere de la deficit la profit. Ei bine, pentru al doilea an la rand suma deficitului operational inaintea platii taxelor trece de 20 milioane lire si administratorii se tem de intrarea la apa si imposibilitatea de a plati dobanzile pe imprumuturile facute la banca, daca abonamentele pe unul sau mai multi ani la lojele stadionului nu vor fi reinnoite de clienti.

Ca mai toate din poleita lume moderna, Wembleyul ”da” minunat la televizor dar aparentele inseala.

Rangers 1 Hibs 0

A brilliant Kane Hemmings strike midway through the second half was enough to give Rangers Youths the points at Murray Park this morning. Billy Kirkwood had Jamie Ness and Gregg Wylde available and they replaced the injured Kyle Hutton and Steven Forbes respectively.

In the first notable action of the game only a stunning Grant Adam save prevented Hibs taking the lead. David Love’s cross from the left was met by the head of Fergus Bell,  the ball looked net bound but Adam at full stretch tipped over. Five minutes later Jamie Ness had a chance when Calum Burns failed to clear but his effort looped over the bar.

On the 20 minute mark Hibs appeared to have strong claims for a penalty when Lewis Horner looked to have been caught by Scott Durie’s challenge, it looked harsh when the referee deemed it a dive and cautioned the Hibs player. Two minutes  later at the other end Kane Hemmings had an incredible miss. He chased down a pass back and charged down Paul Grant’s attempted clearance. It left him with a simple task of walking the ball in to the empty net but he elected to shoot first time and knocked the ball wide.

The visitors then replied with a long range effort from Scott Taggart but it was straight at Adam and he saved comfortably. Just after the half hour Dylan McGeough won the ball in midfield and sent Hemmings clear on the left, the ball was then played inside to Archie Campbell who’s shot was saved by Grant.

Rangers then had a couple of half chances in the minutes leading up to half time. Kamil Wiktorski played the ball forward to Campbell,  he turned the defender at the edge of the box but Grant dealt with his strike easily. Then Wylde, Wiktorski and Hemmings combined on the left to give Jamie Ness a chance, but his attempted chip landed on the top of the net.

Half Time :- Rangers 0 Hibs 0

Six minutes after the break a Jamie Ness through ball gave Archie Campbell a great chance, he advanced in to the box but keeper Grant blocked his shot with his foot. A short time later Hemmings set up substitute Gordon Dick on the right hand side of the box, with options in the centre he shot into the side netting.

Rangers were now creating chances and just after the hour Campbell made progress on the left,  his cut back finding Dick around the penalty spot and his tried to pick his spot only to be denied by the legs of keeper Grant. The goal was only delayed and on 67 minutes Kane Hemmings broke the deadlock with a brilliant individual goal. He won the ball on the halfway line and set off towards the Hibs box, his run took him past two defenders and with support either side he carried on and shot past Grant from the edge of the box.

Almost immediately Grant Adam had to look smart to save at the feet of Love at the other end. In the last twenty minutes neither keeper was troubled and Rangers held on for a good three points in their first competitive game for a month.

Full Time:- Rangers 1 Hibs 0

Rangers :- Grant Adam; Darren Cole, Chris Scott, Scott Durie, Gregg Wylde; Rhys McCabe (Gordon Dick 46mins), Kamil Wiktorski, Dylan McGeough (Kyle Hendry 81mins), Jamie Ness; Archie Campbell, Kane Hemmings.

Not Used:- Mark Weir, Christiano Kisuka, Ewan McNeill, Steven Forbes

Hibs:- Paul Grant; Calum Burns, Aaron Chalmers, Scott Smith, Callum Booth; Lewis Horner (Keith Murray 74mins), Scott Taggart, Tom McCready, Matthew Welsh (Mark Lancaster 74mins); Fergus Bell, David Love (Jon Wright 81mins).

Not Used:- Lewis Graham, Sturt Beveridge, David Crawford

This year’s are the worst Celtic and Rangers teams in history and I’m loving it.

“Ummm Alex,” you’ll say, “Isn’t that a bit insensitive?” My answer: No and fuck you. Long-suffering fans? Let them suffer. While I don’t presume to make categorical statements about entire demographics, the ethos of both clubs’ identities hinges on sectarianism, nationalism and hatred — some charming traits. A good friend of mine is a devout Celtic fan who tells me unironically that he hates “Huns.”

“Not all Old Firm fans are like that,” you say. “You can’t choose your club. It’s with you for life. You’re born into it.” Oh, hey, way to buy into corporate propaganda, fuckwit. Sports fans do have a choice, and I can’t figure out who in his or her right mind would willingly associate himself or herself financially or spiritually with an organization like Celtic or Rangers and with everything that supporting them entails.

While neither organization appears to overtly encourage sectarianism, I haven’t seen either club’s board coming out and saying, “Guys, ummm… You want to tone down the nationalism? In light of all the stuff going on for the last century or so in Ireland, not to mention the sectarian bloodshed that’s been happening pretty much since the Reformation, maybe all this hatred isn’t such a good idea. So could you guys please tone down the religious and national overtones a weensy bit?”

I mean, that would be setting off a mountain of TNT under the goose that lays the golden eggs, wouldn’t it. Not that I mean to imply that either organization is — gasp — cynical. But at least those eggs are getting a lot less golden. TV money for Scottish football? You’re having a laugh. So of course both are prepared to endanger Scotland’s fiercely defended footballing independence by rushing for the border to join the English Premier League, not that a reasonably lucrative and well-run organization like the Premiership wants fuck all to do with the Old Firm.

It’s difficult to say which club is in worse straits.

The most obvious answer is Rangers. I mean, a couple of weeks ago, the Gers were massacred 4-1 by a modest Romanian club half Rangers’ age — at home. The boardroom is under mountains of debt, desperately searching for a buyer — and if the board does find one, the new owners’ likely first act will be to slap price tags on the entire senior squad and turn out the youth team.

And the squad in question is wafer-thin, with few genuinely valuable players. One of the central defenders is nearly 40. The other failed with relegated Charlton. If either one can’t play (for instance because it’s absurd to ask a 39-year-old to appear in every game), the only cover is a one-paced winger who plays out of position. And it’s not like that’s the only problem position. You can’t really see any of the club’s current players commanding fees of more than $8.25 million (£5 million).

But at least Rangers is in the Champions League (for the moment) and at least the club has a good coach in Walter Smith. Though Celtic has better players — Scott Brown, Aiden McGeady and Artur Boruc would probably all command respectable fees — coach Tony Mowbray is a well-intentioned but brittle man. His emphasis on style was successful in the second tier of English soccer (a better league than Scotland’s top division) with West Bromwich Albion, but he didn’t have to deal with the pressure cooker that a Celtic coach is subjected to.

“So fire Mowbray,” you say? In favor of whom? The pay’s not good enough to attract a top-class man and any coach with sense and a burgeoning career will stay well away. If Mowbray goes, I’d make Phil Brown the hot favorite for the job (he should be in need of employment by the time Celtic’s axe falls) and he would be exactly the wrong man for the job. Brown is a managerial genius when it comes to spotting a player and picking a team, but he cannot get along with people. So that would be amusing and probably as disastrous as the last two half-seasons at Hull.

Celtic’s money troubles aren’t as dire as Rangers’, but you can tell the higher-ups at the club know its demise is coming. A cynical eye to the (fairly) recent purchases of players from Asia (Koki Mizuno, Zheng Zhi, Shunsuke Nakamura, Du Wei) bespeaks a grab for Asian bucks, a strategy that never works when the player in question is not a one-time Manchester United right winger (Park, Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo. Any one will do). So too does the purchase of Polish players hint at an attempt to establish a connection with the largest immigrant population in Ireland, a traditional hotbed of Celtic support.

It’s comforting to know that not only are things bad, but they’re not going to get better for Celtic or Rangers. You could argue that other Scottish clubs suffer from the decline of the Old Firm, but I don’t buy that. I’d argue that the more each club suffers, the better Scottish football will get. Perhaps the other clubs can win a title now.

Even more hopeful, look what has happened to Dutch football since it became apparent Dutch clubs couldn’t hang financially with Europe’s big boys. The Dutch giants invested in youth and churned out generations of brilliant players. Now the clubs at the top table aren’t Ajax and Feyenoord but Twente and AZ, a just reward for resourcefulness and prudence. Of course, Scotland doesn’t have a Suriname to tap for talent, but I believe the nation that has arguably done more innovating for soccer than any other can come up with something.

Until then, serve me up another round of schadenfreude and put it on the Old Firm’s tab.

Coincidental to the “Family time” post of a few weeks back, some recent events got me to think further on the topic of passing down hobbies and skills. This is going to be a bit of a gush, but stay with it. My 17-year-old nephew, Daniel (to his family, anyway, but “Danny” professionally), made his debut as a starting player with Glasgow Rangers’ first team last night. He played the entire Scottish Cup quarter-final match against Dundee, making several nice clearances helping the ‘Gers to a 3-1 victory.

Daniel’s dad, my brother-in-law, John Wilson, played professional football as a goalkeeper for Celtic and Hearts until a knee injury forced him to settle into a great career with the Lothian & Borders Police force. John also played – pipes – for a spell with his school band, Craigmount, working with the famous Jennifer Hutcheon, as did my other brother-in-law, Martin Jr., and my wife, Julie.

Their dad, my father-in-law, Martin Wilson, was a piper with one of the first truly world-famous pipe bands, the Edinburgh City Police, being a part of five World’s victories under Pipe-Major Iain McLeod. Piping and football run in the family.

But why is it that piping and drumming so often have not been passed along? If one considers the greats from the 1950s to 1970s, relatively few (pun intended) sons and daughters of the leading pipers and drummers of that era seemed to become equally good or better players, and more often than not didn’t bother to take up the instruments at all.

Donald MacLeod, John Burgess, Hugh MacCallum, John MacDougall, John MacFadyen, Seumas MacNeill, Ronnie Lawrie, Donald MacPherson, Iain MacLellan, Willie Ross, G.S. McLennan, Hector MacFadyen . . . none of these greats, I believe, had a son or daughter who pursued piping in a major way. There are exceptions, of course – John A. MacLellan, Tom Speirs, Alex Duthart . . . but these examples are in the small minority.

But I have a feeling that things are changing. Perhaps it’s the rising popularity of piping and drumming outside of the UK since the 1970s, or maybe it’s the “family time” factor, that’s spurring more kids to take up the instrument that dad or mom plays, and then become as good as or even better – the Gandys, the Lees, the Hawkes, the Hendersons, the Maxwells, the Troys . . . just a few examples, and, yes, there are exceptions.

It’s good to see that that talent, in past generations so often not passed along to sons and daughters, is now more than ever the cool and fun thing to do. Anyway, there’s hardly a better feeling than seeing family follow in family footsteps, and take even bigger leaps.

Jupiler Pro League

El Brujas y el Anderlcht siguen ganando y se mantienen firmes como primero y segundo, con 6 y 5 puntos de diferencia ante el tercero el Mechelen y el Standard, cuarto.

El Brujas ganó 2-3 al Roeselare, colista con goles de Perisic y Vargas en el 39′ y 41′, descontó en el 53′ Vidarsson de penalti, y aunque fue expulsado el visitante Klukowski, los visitantes aumentaron la cuenta por medio de Kouemaha en el 68′. Finalmente, recortó Dissa en el 85′. El Anderlcht ganó por 0-2 en campo del Mechelen con goles un gol en el inicio de cada parte. Lukaku en el 12′ y Boussoufa en el 57′ marcaron. El Standard igualó a 1 con el Zulte-Waregem, -quinto- Cyriac en el 8′ avanzo a los locales pero en el 43′ igualó Roelandts para la visita.

Por abajo, esta la ya comentada derrota del Roeselare, que se hunde como colista. El Mouscron y el Lokeren, los dos equipos que le preceden también han perdido. El primero por 3-2 en campo del Germinal Beerschot que comenzó ganando con un gol de Clement en el 8′ y repitió en el 70′, aunque entre medio había igualado transitoriamente la visita con gol de Lestienne en el 43′, y volvió a igualar en el 89′ con gol de Guillaume, aunque en el 91′ Goor hizo el 3-2 definitivo.

El Lokeren perdió en casa por 0-2 contra el Genk con un par de goles en dos minutos, el primero de Joneleit en el 57′ y el segundo en el 59′ de Camus. El Charleroi por su parte pudo igualar con el Westerlo tras ir perdiendo por 0-1 con gol de Yakovenko en el 71′, en el 83′ Delen fue expulsado para la visita y prácticamente al instante igualó Oulmers 84′.

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Axpo Super League

El Young Boys perdió contra el Grasshoppers que se avanzó por medio de Calla en el 13′, igualó transitoriamente en el 70′ Degen y en el 76′ y de penalti Smiljanic hizo el definitvo 2-1. El Neuchatel, perdió en casa del Sion con gol de Sarni en el 45′ y en el 90′ la visita perdió a Besle por doble amarilla. El Basilea, es tercero igualado con el Neuchatel, tras ganar en el campo del Lucerne por 4-5 en un partido bastante movido. Huggel a los 2′ marcaba para los visitantes, en el 4′ igualaba Chiumientio y en el 8′ Frei ponía el 1-2, aunque Renggli en el 22′ hacía de penalti el empate. Tras el descanso Streller aportó su granito con un doblete en los minutos 73 y 91, aunque antes Hakan Yakin en el 73′ y Ianu en el 87′ habían puesto el 4-3, entre tanto Frei en el 89′ había puesto el 4-4. El Zurich ganó por 1-3 en el campo del Saint Gallen tras remontar el 1-0 parcial de Abegglen en el 33′, Djuric en el 50′ igualó y luego Margairaz y Vonlanthen en los minutos 69′ y 79′ redondearon la remontada. En el duelo de abajo entre Aarau y Bellinzona se lo llevaron estos últimos, tras remontar el gol inicial de Stojkov en el 16′. Lustrinelli en los minutos 80′ y 82′ dejó a los locales con 7 puntos de desventaja sobre los visitantes.

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Scottish Premier League

El Celtic es nuevo líder tras ganar en campo del Hamilton por 1-2 con goles de Maloney en el 15′ y Mc Donald en el 29′. En el 83′ Antione-Curier recortó distancias. El Rangers igualó contra el Hibernian a 1 y pierde el liderato, los visitantes son terceros. Byd en el 8′ adelantó a los locales y en el 63′ Stokes empató. El Dundeee Untd, es cuarto tras ganar por 0-2 con goles de Casalinuovo en el 31′ y Gomis en el 36′. El Saint Mirren y el Motherwell protagonizaron un bonito espectáculo por la 5ª plaza con un 3-3 que deja al Motherwell en ella. Murray para los locales (Saint Mirren) logró un doblete en los minutos 42′ y 72′, aunque Jutkiewicz para los visitantes no fue menos he hizo otro par en los minutos 74′ y 81′, entre medio Forbes en el 49′ de penalti para los visitantes había igualado a 1 parcialmente y Dorman para los locales había hecho el 2-1. El Kilmanrock venció 2-1 al Saint Johnstone con un doblete de Kyle en los minutos 51′ y 64′ y en el 90′ Wright en propia puerta. Hearts y Falkirk igualaron a 0.

Fuente: http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Greece Super League

Olympiacos y Panathinaikos siguen líderes tras ganar a Ergotelis y PAOK. Olympiacos ganó por 2-1 a Ergotelis remontando el gol visitante obra de Shashiashvili en el 22′ con goles de Mitroglou en el 36′ y Dudu Cearense en el 87′. Panathinaikos venció por idéntico resultado con un doblete de Katsouranis en los minutos 23′ y 70′ dejando estéril el gol Vieirinha en el 39′. El Aris tercero, igualó a 1 con el AEK, se avanzaron los locales con gol de Abreu a los 5′ pero Sccocco en el 48′ igualó.

El Panthrakikos sigue como colista tras perder por 1-3 con el Larisa que se avanzó con goles de Melissis en el 30′, Abuhatzira en el 35′ y Simic en el 42′. Robert en el 84′ de penalti acortó distancias. Levadiakos superó al Iraklis por 1-0 con gol de Moulopoulos en el 6′ y le aventajó en la clasificación siendo ahora antepenúltimo.

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Turkey Super League

El Galatasaray aumentó la distancia con sus perseguidores,- Bursaspor 2º y Galatasaray 3º-, a cinco puntos ambos, tras ganar por 3-1 al tercero, con un doblete de Alex en los minutos 12′ y 53′ de penalti este último, en el 57′ Balta recortó distancias y en el 91′ Guiza hizo el tercero. El Bursaspor ganó 6-0 al Istanbul Buyuksehir que acabó con 8 tras las expulsiones de Sylla y Hakin por doble amarilla en el 56′ y 62′ y de Okan en el 91′ por roja directa. Erdogan e Ipek abrieron en el marcador en el 12′ y 16′, Batalla en el 43′ dejaba un 3-0 parcial al descanso y después Sen en el 66′, Bahadir en el 74′ y Tandogan en el 81′ redondearon el marcador. El Besiktas ganó por 0-1 al Eskisehirspor con gol de Dag en el 83′ y ahora es 5º.

Denilzospor es el colista tras perder con el Kasimpasa por 3-1, tras avanzarse los visitantes con gol de Bangoura en el 16′, Isler en el 29′ igualó y en el 50′ avanzó a los suyos redondeando Möritz en el 54′ el marcador. El Sivasspor ganó por 3-0 al Gaziantepspor con goles de Aydin en el 48′ y de Yilmaz en el 51′ y 91′, siendo ahora penúltimos.

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Russian Premier League

El Rubin ganó por 1-2 en campo del Rostov con goles de Alejandro en el 16′ y de Ansaldi en el 45′, en el 47′ Ahmetovic acortó distancias. El Spartak goleó por 0-3 al Khimki con un doblete de Welliton en el 9′ y en el 89′ y otro de Parshivlyuk en el 43′ y sigue segundo a 1 punto. El Zenit tercero igualó a 2 contra el Spartak Nalchik y se alejó a 6 puntos del líder. Birstov en el 7′ y Tekke en el 29′ marcaron para los locales y Siradze en el 10′ y Leandro en el 65′ para la visita. El CSKA perdió por 1-3 contra el FC Moscú y dice adiós al título y a Juande Ramos que ha sido despedido. Tarasov en el 10′, Rebko de penalti en el 20′ y Epureanu en el 39′ dejaron visto para sentencia el partido que solo Necid en el 83′, mejoró algo para los locales.

Los tres de abajo siguen siendo el Khimki último, el Kuban Krasnodar penúltimo que igualó a 1 con el Dínamo con goles de Traoré en el 8′ para los primeros y de Kombarov en el 48′ para la visita. Y antepenúltimo es el Spartak Nalchik.

Clasificación

Fuente: http://es.uefa.com/

Ukraine Premier League

El Dínamo gano por 0-2 ante el Dnipro – tercero-, con goles de Ghioane en el 72′ y de Milevski en el 87′ de penalti. El Shaktar igualó en el campo del Zakarpattia a 1 con goles de Trisovic en el 50′ para los locales y de Gai en el 37′ para la visita. El Metalist Kharkiv ganó 1-0 al Porskla y es tercero, gracias al gol de Coelho en el 3′.

El Kryvbas Krivyi Rig sigue colista tras perder por 2-1 en el campo del Arsenal con goles de Vorobey en el 29′ y de Evseev en el 50′ para los locales y de Karakevych en el 82′. El Zakarpattia es antepenúltimo y el Metalurg Zaporizhya antepenúltimo tras igualar a 3 en el campo del Karpaty con goles de Tejku en el 4′ y Alozi en el 27′ y 40′ para la visita y de Kozhanvo en el 44′, Oshchypko en el 65′ y de Fedetskyy en el 75′.

Clasificación

» Unirea Urziceni a reusit prima victorie in Liga Campionilor, scor 4-1, pe terenul scotienilor de la Glasgow Rangers si astfel ialomitenii ocupa locul doi in Grupa G, cu 4 puncte dupa 3 etape. Gazdele au inceput norocos si au deschis rapid scorul (2′) dupa autogolul lui Ricardo Vilana. Meciul a continuat echilibrat dar in minutul 19 Dan Petrescu a decis sa faca prima schimbare si l-a introdus in teren pe Onofras in locul lui Nicu. Mutare a foarte inspirata pentru ca Unirea a inceput sa preseze si in minutul 32 Bilasco avea sa aduca egalarea dupa o pasa primita de la Brandan. Cateva minute mai tarziu Bruno Fernandes face hent in careu dar portarul Tudor apara incredibil penalty-ul executat de Davis si astfel se intra la cabine cu scorul de 1-1. Unirea incepe bine si dupa pauza iar dupa ce Bilasco rateaza in minutul 48, reusesc sa treaca in avantaj pe tabela, un minut mai tarziu, dupa autogolul lui Lafferty, dupa o centrare perfecta venita de la Apostol. In minutul 59 Unirea duce scorul la 3-1 dupa autogolul marcat de McCulloch, dupa o lovitura libera executata de Balan. In minutul 65 scorul devine 4-1 spre stupefactia fanilor scotieni, dupa ce sutul lui Brandan de la circa 30 de metri a intrat in poarta, dupa devierea lui Naismith. Gazdele controleaza finalul meciului dar acest lucru nu mai conteaza prea mult pentru ca ialometinii s-au aparat exact si au mentinut rezultatul pana la finalul meciului. Victoria echipei noastre a fost foarte meritata si dupa acest rezultat Unirea poate spera la primavara Champions League.

» Marcatori: Ricardo Vilana (1-0)(2′ – autotgol) / Marius Bilasco (1-1)(32′), Kyle Lafferty (1-2)(49′ – autogol), Lee McCulloch (1-3)(59′ – autogol), Pablo Brandan (1-4)(65′)

» Rangers: McGregor – Whittaker, Weir, McCulloch, Papac – Thomson – Rothen (Novo, 66′), Davis, Mendes (Lafferty, 46′), Naismith – K.Miller. Antrenor: Walter Smith.

» Unirea: Tudor – Ep.Nicu (Onofras, 19′), Maftei, Galamaz, B.Fernandes, Brandan – Varga (Paduretu, 89′), Vilana, Apostol, Balan (Frunza, 75′) – Bilasco. Antrenor: Dan Petrescu.

De la sfârşit la început. Dan Petrescu, după Scoţia: „Acum le-am spus jucătorilor: capul jos şi la muncă .
Nu trebuie să ne lăudăm prea mult”. Nu e nimic aici din ce ne-am obişnuit să fie. Mândria clişeizată în cuvinte abandonate de sens, ca „Am scris istorie!”, e ridicolă, periculoasă şi preferată de o presă mică şi oportunistă.

Petrescu a adus la Urziceni raţiunea în detrimentul extazului tâmp. E singurul antrenor care a nimerit la intersecţia fericită între un proiect ambiţios şi condiţiile decente pentru a fi împlinit. În România, în fotbal şi aiurea, asta înseamnă un lux, o excepţie şi o explicaţie pentru degradarea constantă a sistemului.

Petrescu a pus diagnosticul corect: ce s-a întâmplat la Glasgow este un succes de parcurs, fără consecinţe imediate. „Nu e o minune, ci un rezultat bun. Când ne vom califica, atunci victoria va deveni istorică”.

Specialiştii vor face observaţiile lor punctuale: Unirea a câştigat pentru că a făcut presing şi când conducea cu trei goluri, pentru că a fost echipa mai disciplinată şi mai norocoasă. Miza rămâne alta: impunerea „modelului Petrescu” (disciplină, anularea zgomotului de fond, solidaritate).

Victoriile celor de la Urziceni sunt nule, dacă mângâie doar orgoliul naţionaliştilor excitaţi. Ele contează cu adevărat (mult dincolo de aria limitată a fanilor) când (şi dacă) probează eficienţa „modelului Petrescu” şi-l răspândesc. Dacă tot mai mulţi se vor converti la religia competenţei fără ifose. Altfel, jucători şi mai talentaţi decât Bilaşco sau Varga vor strânge vagi momente de glorie. Şi atât.

* acest articol a fost publicat in evenimentul zilei (www.evz.ro), in data de 22.10.2009

Campioana Ligii Întâi a fost condusă pe Ibrox Park încă din minutul 2, după ce şutul lui Mendes a fost deviat în propria poartă de Bruno Fernandes.

Unirea a egalat în minutul 32, cu ajutorul lui Bilasco, iar veteranul Daniel Tudor – titular în poartă în locul lui Arlauskis – a apărat un penalty până la pauză.

Trupa lui Dan Petrescu a trecut în faţă în minutul 49, după ce Fernandes a finalizat cu călcâiul la un corner. A urmat un autogol din partea lui McCulloch pentru ca lovitura de graţie să fie dată de Brandan, în minutul 65.

Unirea este acum pe locul doi în grupa G şi a luat o opţiune serioasă pentru calificarea în primăvara europeană. Ialomiţenii sunt la cinci lungimi în urma liderului FC Sevilla, care are punctaj maxim dupa ce s-a impus 3 la 1 pe terenul lui VfB Stuttgart.

Sursa: europafm.ro

Vereséggel kezdte, döntetlennel folytatta, míg végül a csoportkör 3. fordulójában megszerezte első győzelmét a Bajnokok Ligájában az Urziceni-i Unirea. A román bajnok nemcsak a keddi játéknap, hanem a rangos kupasorozat történetének egyik legmeglepőbb bravúrját érte el, miután 4–1-es sima győzelmet aratott a Glasgow Rangers otthonában.

A Urziceni gyakorlatilag egygólos hátránnyal kezdett, a 2. percben ugyanis Mendes távoli lövése a túl későn blokkoló Ricardón lepattanva a hálóba pottyant. A korán bekapott gól legtöbb esetben morálromboló hatással van a csapatokra, az Urziceni-t azonban annál inkább felrázta. A továbbiakban többnyire kiélezett küzdelem folyt a középpályán, de az Unirea lépcsőzetesen kezdte átvenni az irányítást. A mezőnyjáték helyét hamarosan mindkét oldalon gyors ellentámadások vették át, amely megfelelt az általában kontrákra építkező román csapatnak. A vendégek fölényéről sokat elárul az is, hogy az első félidő közepéig 65% arányban birtokolták a labdát. Azonban a statisztikát félretéve, a támadóbb taktikára váltó Urziceni egyre bátrabban támadott, és meg sem állt, míg a 32. percben nem egyenlített: Bălan két védő közötti indítása találta meg a bal szélen jó ütemben kiugró Brandant, akinek lapos passzát közelről Bilaşco zavartalanul gurította a kapuba. Ezt követően az Unirea visszavett az tempóból, magára húzta ellenfelét és meg is fizetett érte: Fernandez kezezéséért a bíró jogosan büntetőt ítélt, Davis lövését azonban parádésan hárította Tudor.

A folytatásban mindenki a hazaiak lerohanásait várta, a vendégeknek azonban más terveik voltak: az Unirea megszállta ellenfele kapuját, és amíg jól meg nem tömte, el sem hagyta azt. A 49. percben Apostol alacsony beadását Fernandez sarokkal küldte a hosszúba, a labda Lafferty hathatos segítségével ért célhoz. Tíz perccel később Bălan veszélyes ívelésénél – mivel ez a meccs főleg az öngólokról szólt – McCulogh célt tévesztett és saját kapujába fejelt. A 65. percben Brandan McGregoron lepattant szabadrúgása háromra növelte az Urziceni előnyét. Ezután a vendégek lazítottak, de továbbra is uralták a középpályát. A lelátókon megdermedt skót szurkolók hiába várták kedvenceik válaszát, a vérszegény támadások nem vezettek eredményre. A hajrában az Unirea ismét átvette a kezdeményezést, és sikerült távol tartania ellenfelét a kapujától. Végül – az öngólok miatt – némi szerencsével, de hatalmas küzdőerőerejével és szervezettségével megérdemelten aratott történelmi sikert Skóciában. Győzelmével az Unirea csoportja második helyére ugrott az FC Sevilla mögé, amely 3–1-gyel legyűrte idegenben a VfB Stuttgartot.

Sallai Loránd