Malmo FF 0 – 2 Rangers

Rangers made a storming begin to their Europa League marketing campaign with a 2-0 win over Malmo in Sweden which ought to have been extra emphatic.

Midfielder Nedim Bajrami scored his first purpose for the Ibrox membership in lower than a minute and Philippe Clement’s facet handed up a number of probabilities so as to add a second earlier than the interval.

The Swedish champions, who had not misplaced to Rangers in 4 earlier conferences in Champions League qualifiers, piled stress on after the break however nonetheless the Scottish facet missed probabilities so as to add to their lead earlier than substitute Ross McCausland fired in an excellent second within the 76th minute to seal the win.

Requested if it was Rangers’ greatest efficiency of the season, Clement stated: “Sure, I believe so. Nevertheless it does not imply it will keep the very best that we have had. I believe we have to work laborious to make it higher and that is what we will do.

“It was the proper begin to the marketing campaign, and the proper begin to the sport additionally.”

It was the largest check for the Ibrox outfit since they misplaced 3-0 to Celtic in the beginning of the month they usually got here by with flying colors.

Clement’s facet can take confidence into their Scottish Premiership sport in opposition to Hibernian on Sunday, reside on Sky Sports activities, earlier than they host French facet Lyon subsequent week within the second of eight Europa League fixtures.

How Rangers beat Malmo

Earlier than the sport Clement needed to wrestle with choice dilemmas.

With Jefte suspended and Ridvan Yilmaz amongst a clutch of injured gamers, 22-year-old Dutch defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, on mortgage from Feyenoord, was handed his first begin at left-back, whereas midfielder Mohamed Diomande took over from Dujon Sterling.

Malmo, eight factors clear on the prime of the Swedish desk and seemingly on their technique to title No 24, had been surprised to go behind so early.

Cyriel Dessers latched on to a slack cross again from defender Gabriel Busanello and rounded ‘keeper Johan Dahlin solely to see his shot from a good angle hit the submit however Albania worldwide Bajrami, signed from Italian facet Sassuolo in the summertime, was following up and knocked the ball in to the empty web.

The purpose rattled the house facet however they quickly received to grips with their process.

Within the 18th minute Malmo striker Isaac Kiese Thelin, prime scorer within the Swedish prime flight, knocked in a free-kick from Sergio Pena however the offside flag was immediately raised.

Dahlin needed to save a Bajrami drive earlier than Dessers miscontrolled contained in the field at a significant second.

5 minutes earlier than the break Bajrami despatched wide-man Vaclav Cerny racing clear on purpose however the Gers attacker missed the goal along with his unconvincing shot.

Bajrami’s drive from 20 yards moments later was far more highly effective and drew a advantageous save from Dahlin, though, in one other Rangers break, the Albanian returned a cross to Dessers when he ought to have gotten a shot away.

The Govan facet had been put below intense stress in the beginning of the second half by Henrik Rydstrom’s outfit however nonetheless Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland was well-protected.

Within the 58th minute Malmo skipper Anders Christiansen ballooned a shot over the bar from 12 yards, hinting that it could possibly be Rangers’ evening.

An acrobatic effort on the different finish from Dessers following a Cerny free-kick had Dahlin scrambling to avoid wasting however Portuguese referee Luis Godinho blew for an infringement.

Winger McCausland changed the tiring Cerny within the 69th minute earlier than Dessers raced away from the Malmo defence and cleared the bar with a careless end.

Nevertheless, Northern Eire worldwide McCausland was unerring in his 20-yard drive, the ball skipping in off the submit earlier than he and the remainder of the Gers gamers raced to the nook to take the acclaim of the travelling supporters.

There was time for Kasanwirjo to slam a shot over the bar with solely Dahlin to beat nevertheless it was a scoreline Rangers would have accepted with gratitude earlier than kick-off.

Boyd: E-book your flights to Bilbao now!

Sky Sports activities’ Kris Boyd:

“Rangers had been actually spectacular from the primary minute after Bajrami’s purpose. Such an incredible begin from Rangers they usually might have been up by three targets within the first half.

“McCausland got here on about 66 minutes and managed to attain a extremely good purpose. It was a extremely good efficiency from Rangers.

“It is the primary time Rangers have crushed Swedish opposition and cozy sufficient. The one fear for Clement can be that lack of ruthlessness in entrance of purpose.

“I am going to let you know one factor: it is cheaper to ebook your flights for Bilbao now relatively than ready near Might. That is the place the ultimate is and Rangers are on their means!”

Clement: Our greatest efficiency of the season

Requested if it was the very best efficiency of the marketing campaign up to now, Gers boss Clement stated: “Sure, I believe so. Nevertheless it does not imply it will keep the very best that we have had. I believe we have to work laborious to make it higher and that is what we will do.

“It was the proper begin to the marketing campaign, and the proper begin to the sport additionally.

“Malmo are a extremely troublesome opponent to play in opposition to. They play with loads of operating actions however in a chaotic fashion – it is troublesome to defend in opposition to.

“My gamers did a large job sticking to the plan, all sport, all 90 minutes.

“The fellows who began, the blokes who got here on. And we used the areas additionally in a extremely great way with the ball. So it was a really mature efficiency that I noticed from my group.

“The one small factor which you can say is for those who kill off the sport within the first half, then it is totally different once more.

“However I believe they confirmed a extremely good sport at the moment and we are going to proceed engaged on the ending.”

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