Kaunas Match Report

August 6, 2008

FT - It’s all over and Rangers are out of Europe. Less than three months after reaching the UEFA Cup final, they fall at the first hurdle and Kaunas deserve their place in the final qualifying round.

89 min - Three minutes of injury time is announced.

87 min - Double Gers substitution - Lafferty and Boyd on for Miller and Novo.

85 min - GOAL! FBK Kaunas 2 Rangers 1 - Kaunas take the lead from a corner with only five minutes remaining.

84 min - Velicka tries his luck from 25 yards but his shot is wide.

83 min - Novo has time to cross again from the right and Miller’s header is well held by Kello.

81 min - Novo wins a corner after a strong run and takes it himself. The ball is cleared but Rangers still clinging on at this stage.

79 min - Papac does brilliantly to get into the Kaunas 18-yard box and his cut-back to Velicka is brilliant. The Lithuanian has time and space but blazes his effort over from 15 yards. Great chance to finish the tie.

76 min - Kevin Thomson is slack in possession and Kaunas counter attack siftly. In the end the move breaks down but Gers can’t be so wasteful when they have the ball.

70 min - Kenny Miller shows pace and skill down the left wing but his cross is too near to Kello who clutches it confidently after it has bounced off the greasy surface. 

68 min - Kaunas win a free-kick on the right wing which Ledesma is sent out to take. His cross is long and McGregor has to grasp the ball under his cross bar.

65 min - Kaunas substitution - Baguzis off and replaced by Grigalevicius.

65 min - Gers substitution - Andrius Velicka on for Charlie Adam.

65 min - Charlie takes free-kick but his powerful effort again hits the wall. Frustrating period for Gers.

64 min - Gers again awarded free-kick, this time 20 yards from goal after Thomson is hauled to the ground. Mrowiec is then booked for dissent but great chance for Gers.

61 min - Gers awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal but McCulloch’s effort is tame and hits the defensive wall.

59 min - Another good opportunity for Kaunas. Manchkhava crosses from the left and Mrowiec heads is goalbound. McGregor, however, does well to hold the ball.

55 min - Big let-off for Gers. Kaunas attack after bad defensive header from Broadfoot. Ball comes to Marius Cinikas 30 yards from goal. He skins Kevin Thomson before hitting a right-foot shot which smashes off the cross bar. Gers need to raise their game considerably at this stage.

52 min - Former Hearts midfielder Linas Pilibaitis cuts in from the left but his low right-foot shot is off target.

47 min - Dailly concedes another free-kick 35 yards from goal. Luksa crosses and the ball is flicked on into the arms of the diving McGregor. Ref awards offside against a Kaunas man but Gers need to stop giving away free-kicks in dangerous positions.

46 min - Rangers restart the match from the kick-off. Hugely important 45 minutes lies ahead.

HT: FBK Kaunas 1 Rangers 1 - A stunning late goal from Radzius stuns Walter Smith’s men but the Light Blues remain in the driving seat. Still a lot of work to be done.

43 min - GOAL! Kaunas 1 Rangers 1 - Nerijus Radzius takes this time and fires home a stunning effort which gives McGregor no hope. Bad time to concede for Gers.

42 min - Ledesma shows his tidy skill by spinning away from Christian Dailly who brings down the striker 30 from goal. Free-kick awarded.

39 min - Kaunas are awarded a free-kick on the right and Ledesma takes. His wicked, in-swinging cross is missed by McGregor but, fortunately for the keeper, is inches wide of his far post. Let off for Gers.

34 min - GOAL! Kaunas 0 Rangers 1 - Kevin Thomson is the Gers hero. Novo crosses from the right and the midfielder’s momentum takes him beyond a defender. Thommo then shoots with his left foot from close range and the ball clips the inside of Kello’s leg before finding the net.  

31 min - Kaunas almost gift Gers a goal when Mindaugas Baguzis attempts to head back to his keeper and the ball trundles by the goal.

30 min - Kaunas central midfielder Mendy fires an ambitious shot from all of 40 yards which was never going to concern McGregor.

26 min - Good play from Gers. Adam finds Papac darting forward on the left wing. The Bosnian crosses but Miller’s low shot from 18-yards does not have the power to trouble Kello.

24 min - Pascal Mendy is booked for a rash challenge on Nacho Novo.

21 min - Thomson booked for foul in the wide area of the pitch. Match is pretty even at this stage.

19 min - Charlie Adam whips in a dangerous cross which is headed out for a corner. Novo takes but ball is headed from the danger area.

16 min - Brazilian striker Ledesma takes but his low shot his well held by McGregor.

15 min - Kaunas are awarded free-kick 25 yards from goal after Lee McCulloch is adjudged to foul Pascal Mendy. Lee is booked as a result.

14 min - Great chance for Gers. Dailly plays long ball through to Miller but, with just the keeper to beat, his chipped effort goes wide of target.

11 min - Kaunas win their first corner of the match. Cross is cleared by Davie Weir.

9 min - Charlie Adam flicks on a long ball from Allan McGregor and sets Kenny Miller free but Adrian Mrowiec makes a terrific tackle to halt the striker.

5 min - Broadfoot heads the ball out for a throw-in to halt a Kaunas attack as the rain continues to pelt the playing surface. 

3  min - Kevin Thomson sprints past two midfielders with the ball but his shot is down the throat of Kello who saves easily. Good start from Gers. 

1 min - Novo skins his marker and his cross troubles the Kaunas keeper Marian Kello who has to palm it over the bar. Nothing comes from the resulting corner.

0 min - Kaunas get the match underway in horrendous conditions. Big test tonight for the Gers players.

TEAMS -

RANGERS: McGregor; Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac; Dailly; Novo (Lafferty 86), McCulloch, Thomson, Adam (Velicka 65); Miller (Boyd 86)

Subs: Alexander, Darcheville, Webster,  Hemdani

Bookings: McCulloch (15), Thomson (21)

FBK KAUNAS: Kello, Radzius, Mrowiec, Mendy, Manchkava, Pilibaitis, Ledesma, Luksa, Zelmikas, Baguzis (Grigalevicuis 65), Cinikas

Subs: Dreer, Zubavicius, Rimkevicius, Kunevicius, Miklinevicuis, Mamac

Bookings: Mendy (24) Zelmikas (64)

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Cuellar a doubt for Kaunas

August 4, 2008

Carlos Cuellar is unlikely to feature in the second leg of Rangers’ Champions League qualifier against Kaunas.

The Spanish defender missed the goalless first game at Ibrox last Wednesday after suffering a calf injury in a friendly against Raith Rovers.

Assistant manager Ally McCoist admitted Cuellar would probably miss out despite travelling to Lithuania.

“There has been a vast improvement but it looks as though the game has come too quickly for him,” said McCoist.

Rangers are likely to play Danish side Aalborg in the final qualifying round if they progress.

But McCoist knows his team must improve on an uninspired showing in the first game

“It’s a big test for us early in the season and it’s a game that we need to get a result in if we want to play European football - it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“The pressure is not a problem, we showed last season that we can handle the pressure when it comes to getting results.

“We had a superb run in Europe last season and we know what’s at stake this time - so let’s get on with it.”

Rangers suffered a 4-0 drubbing from Liverpool at Ibrox on Saturday but McCoist does not believe that confidence has been dented.

He added: “It was only a friendly and it was against one of the best sides in Europe.

“These games are all about fitness and getting prepared for the big matches and this is certainly a big match for us.”

Rangers will also be without injured skipper Barry Ferguson, Steven Naismith, Chris Burke and DaMarcus Beasley, while new signing Madjid Bougherra is ineligible.

 

Rangers (from): McGregor, Dailly, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, McCulloch, Thomson, Adam, Darcheville, Miller, Alexander, Novo, Boyd, Velicka, Hemdani, Lafferty, Webster, Furman.

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Smith issues rallying call

August 4, 2008

Walter Smith has warned his Rangers FC players they must raise their game ahead of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round decider at FBK Kaunas.

‘Brighter and sharper’
The Lithuanian title-holders held Rangers to a goalless draw at Ibrox last Wednesday and Smith knows there is no margin for error with last season’s beaten UEFA Cup finalists facing a potential European exit should they fail to progress to the third qualifying round. ”We have to get up and playing, there’s no getting away from that, and we must do it very quickly,” said Smith. “It was evident in the first half hour of the game on Wednesday that we weren’t up there. Tuesday is an important match and we have to be brighter and sharper.”

‘Well-beaten’
Smith’s preparations have not been helped by a 4-0 friendly loss to Liverpool FC on Saturday, but the Rangers manager does not believe the severity of the defeat will dent the players’ confidence ahead of the trip to the S. Darius & S. Girénas Stadium.  “We didn’t take a lot from the game [against Liverpool] apart from the fact we were well beaten,” added Smith, who is likely to be without Spain defender Carlos Cuéllar who is recovering from a calf injury.

Team spirit
“I don’t think the morale aspect has got anything to do with it. It was a friendly game, and I don’t think the morale will be a problem. The problem is getting back to a level of play that will allow us to compete in a better manner. It’s just a fact we have to face that we are not reaching the same level as we did in the early part of last season.”

‘Very good result’
Meanwhile, Kaunas midfielder Linas Pilibaitis is backing himself to score the winner and knock Rangers out of the UEFA Champions League at the first hurdle. “Rangers may have a big reputation having reached the UEFA Cup final but we found out last Wednesday they are just normal players,” said the former Heart of Midlothian FC player. “A 0-0 draw at Ibrox was a very good result for us because we will win in Kaunas. I really believe we will win 1-0. Maybe I will be lucky enough to score the

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Rangers fight to forge onward

August 4, 2008

The UEFA Champions League second qualifying round concludes this week with Rangers FC among the sides battling to continue their European campaigns.

Rangers level
Having entered Europe’s premier club competition at the same stage last season before dropping into the UEFA Cup, Rangers’ run to the final meant a gruelling end-of-season schedule both at home and abroad. However, the Scottish club are in danger of bowing out of continental action before their domestic campaign has even kicked off, the Light Blues travelling to Lithuania to face FBK Kaunas with the tie delicately poised at 0-0. The winners of the tie are likely to meet Aalborg BK, who lead Bosnia-Herzegovina’s FK Modriča 5-0 ahead of their return in Zenica on Wednesday.

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Beware of Aalborg

August 1, 2008

ERIK BO ANDERSEN believes the way has been paved for Rangers to take a place in the Champions League - but has warned them not to underestimate Aalborg.

The striker played for the Danish side before leaving them for Ibrox in a £1.5million transfer in February 1996.

Although the 37-year-old is now working in politics rather than football, he has continued to monitor the progress AaB have made in recent times.

The Jutland club, which appointed Bruce Rioch as its new manager in the summer, won the league by nine points from FC Midtjylland last season.

Despite that win, Andersen thinks Walter Smith’s Gers will have too much for them if they get past Kaunas and into the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Of course, Bosnian outfit Modrica could yet beat AaB to the final preliminary stage if they can overturn the 5-0 defeat they suffered in midweek this Wednesday.

But it is almost certain the Superligaen outfit will progress, giving Rangers a potential chance to take on a team from Denmark competitively for the fourth time.

Although Andersen is sure the Scots would then advance to the group stage, he has stressed it won’t be easy for them to get so far.

Aalborg beat Sampdoria on away goals last season to reach the group phase of the UEFA Cup then drew with Anderlecht and only lost by a single goal to Spurs and Getafe.

Andersen said: “This is a good draw for Rangers. They will be the favourites if the teams meet, there is no doubt about that.

“If the teams played each other 10 times, there is no way Aalborg would win at least five of those matches.

“At the same time, it would be stupid to think this will be a walkover for Rangers because Aalborg have a good side.

“Collectively, they are a team that works hard with no real superstars in it and that is their big quality.

“On their day, they can compete with a lot of big sides. They were unlucky to lose at Tottenham last season and with a bit of luck, could have had a better result there.

“Aalborg also went through on away goals against Sampdoria after drawing 2-2 with them in Italy to get to the group stage.

“If they are on form, they are a hard team to beat. I would still expect Rangers to see off Aalborg but they will have to work hard if they are to win overall.”

Andersen has picked out forward Jeppe Curth as the man Gers need to be wary of if they find themselves pitched against the Danes.

The 24-year-old was the leading scorer in his country’s league last season and he is someone Smith will want his men to snuff out.

Andersen added: “Curth is a good striker. He is not the tallest but he is a dangerous player. I think he scored 15 or 16 times last season and has shown a lot of potential.

“He went abroad to play for Feyenoord when he was quite young but is back in Denmark now and is making good progress.

“In midfield, Thomas Augustinussen is one of Aalborg’s best players too. He is very tall and creates a lot of things. He holds the team together very well.”

Rangers

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Gers get Aalborg or Modrica in Champion League

August 1, 2008

RANGERS will meet Aalborg or Modrica  in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League - if they can get past Kaunas.

It;’s odds on that it will be the Danish champions Aalborg as they lead Bosnians Modrica 5-0 from the first leg of their 2nd qualifying round this week and will surely progress next week.

Rangers are due to be away from home first on August 12 or 13 with the return due at Ibrox on August 26 or 27.

Aalborg are bossed by former Scotland international and Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch, who took over in June this year having worked with fellow Danes Odense before that.

They won the Danish title by nine points from FC Midtyjlland last season but they have lost the first two league matches of this season.

Rangers

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Kaunas 2nd leg on BBC

August 1, 2008

BBC Scotland will have extensive coverage of the second leg of Rangers’ Champions League second-round qualifier against FBK Kaunas on Tuesday.

The match will be screened live from 5.45pm on BBC Two Scotland and on the BBC Sport website. Kick-off is 6.05pm.

There will also be full commentary on Radio Scotland’s Sportsound 810MW.

Rangers and Kaunas are locked at 0-0 from the first leg. The winners will almost certainly face Aalborg of Denmark in the final qualifying round.

BBC

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Euro Sweat For Gers

July 31, 2008

RANGERS go into tomorrow’s draw for the 3rd qualifying roud for the Champions League knowing they could land massively difficult opponents if they are able to overcome Kaunas.

Of course, with the 2nd round only at the halfway stage there could be an either/or scenario for Rangers but there are some real heavweights in the non-seeded section.

Rangers could get Altetico Madrid, Galatasaray, Sparta Prague, Slavia Prague or Dinamo Kiev, for example, and any of these would be extremely tough.

The draw ceremony takes place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon at 12.30pm tomorrow

SEEDS

Liverpool ENG),  Barcelona (ESP), Arsenal FC (ENG), FC Schalke 04 (GER), Juventus (ITA), Rangers FC (SCO) / FBK Kaunas (LTU),  Marseille (FRA), Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Panathinaikos FC (GRE) / FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), IFK Gothenburg (SWE) / FC Basel 1893 (SUI), Olympiacos CFP (GRE), Fenerbahce SK (TUR) / MTK Budapest (HUN), RSC Anderlecht (BEL) / FC BATE Borisov (BLR), ACF Fiorentina (ITA), FC Spartak Moscow (RUS)

NON SEEDS

Atlético Madrid (ESP), FC Sheriff (MDA) / Sparta Prague (CZE), Drogheda United FC (IRL) / FC Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Levski Sofia (BUL), Slavia Prague(CZE), Galatasaray (TUR), Inter Baku (AZE) / FK Partizan (SRB), Vitória SC (POR), NK Domzale (SVN) / Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR) / Wisla Kraków (POL),  Standard Liège (BEL), FC Twente (NED), Tampere United (FIN) / FC Artmedia Petrzalka (SVK), Aalborg (DEN) / FK Modrica (BIH), SK Brann (NOR) / FK Ventspils (LVA), Anorthosis Famagusta FC (CYP) / SK Rapid Wien (AUT)

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Velicka’s Warning

July 29, 2008

ANDRIUS VELICKA has warned that the Kaunas players will do everything to try to win moves to British football by starring against Rangers tomorrow night.

Even although many of the Kaunas staff have found their way to Tynecastle - Velicka included - due to Vladimir Romanov’s ownership of both clubs, the Kaunas players will be determined to showcase their talents.

They are envious that Velicka has ended up at a club like Rangers and he knows that it will inspire them.

Velicka, who had two spells with Kaunas, said: “They will want to show they are good players and it is a chance for them to show that they deserve a good contract somewhere else.

“I don’t know all of the players because it is two years since I played there but I know that they will play with strong hearts.

“Ledesma is a good player. He is useful at set pieces but he is a typical Braziian in that he does not offer a physical presence.

“I believe they should worry about Rangers. We should be too strong for them. Rangers is a bigger and better team than Kaunas in all aspects.”

Velicka played for Kaunas against Rangers the last time the two sides met in the Champions League qualifying phase eight years ago.

He added: “Of course, it will be a special match for me because it is against my old club and I have many good memories. I just hope I get the chance to be on the pitch to enjoy it.”

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Davis wishes us luck

July 29, 2008

STEVE DAVIS last night sent a good luck message to his Ibrox mates - in the hope he might be back to join them again in the Champions League.

The Northern Ireland skipper is still stuck in limbo with his future hanging in the balance as his on-off return to Rangers turns into a saga.

On Thursday last week it looked as though he was finally about to seal his dream move in time to make his second debut tomorrow night against Kaunas, who stand in the way of Walter Smith’s side and a £10million bounty in UEFA’s elite competition.

But the £2.5m deal broke down and the signing deadline came and went with Davis, who spent the last six months of last season on loan with his boyhood heroes, still stuck at Fulham.

With the move still a possibility before the end of the transfer window, Davis is desperate for Smith and his group to book their place in the second knockout round.

Davis told Record Sport: “Of course I’ll be wishing the boys all the best. I’ll be watching for the results against Kaunas with great interest and hoping the lads get through to the Champions League.

“It would be nice to think about playing in the Champions League with them but, right now, signing for Rangers is still a long way off.

“I’d just like it all to be resolved so I can get on with my future. For now I’m training on my own and waiting for things to get sorted out.”

Meanwhile, Rangers are expected to make an offer for Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens within the next few days but reports that the Dutch ace could be heading to Ajax are wide of the mark according to the player’s representatives.

Daily Record

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