What is RSS?

Sporting sent crashing out of Uefa Cup by clinical Rangers

Sporting 0-2 Rangers (agg. 0-2)

Sporting’s hopes of European glory were shattered last night at Alvalade as Glasgow Rangers scored a 2-0 win over the Lisbon club.

The Portuguese club were unable to break through a resolute Rangers defence, and breakaway goals in the second half from Darcheville and Whittaker gave the Scots an ultimately deserved victory.

Despite proving they were the superior footballing side over the majority of the two legs, a damning indictment to the final outcome is that Sporting did not force the Rangers goalkeeper into one serious save over the 180 minutes.

In contrast, Rangers’ incisive counter-attacks on a rainy Lisbon night, albeit sporadic, always looked more likely to produce a goal than Sporting’s intricate passing game. The victory for Rangers was also a tactical triumph for Walter Smith, whose team once again produced a near perfect away performance in Europe – as they had done in victories at Lyon and Panathinaikos earlier this season.

The more experienced visitors settled immediately against a nervy Sporting, with centre-back Gladstone, deputising for the injured Polga, looking particularly uncomfortable. A crass mistake from the Brazilian in the 3rd minute saw the ball fall to Darcheville, and only a moment’s delay and a desperate recovering tackle from Gladstone prevented the French striker from giving Rangers an early lead.

Woodwork denies Liedson

The hosts gradually recovered from a shaky start, with Moutinho, Vukcevic and Izmailov all trying their luck from distance. On 17 minutes Sporting came within a whisker of taking the lead. Liedson rose highest to meet a wonderfully delivered Romagnoli free-kick and send a header thumping against the post.

For all the talk of Rangers’ strength and Sporting’s weakness in the air, it was ironic that both last night and at Ibrox the Portuguese side came closest to scoring through the aerial route, while looking defensively secure in that department at the other end of the pitch.

The match then went into something of a lull until half time, with Sporting restricted to shots from distance, the best of which came from Vukcevic and Moutinho whose strikes whistled just past the post, while Tonel made a fine blocking tackle in the Sporting box to ensure the match remained goalless at the break.

Whatever Paulo Bento told his charges at the interval seemed to have the desired effect as Sporting came out far more determined in the second half. The increasingly influential Abel was providing good support on the right flank as the Scots conceded a series of corners and free-kicks around the box.

Solid defence

In the 53rd minute Vukcevic sent a header agonisingly wide, but despite their higher energy levels Sporting were finding it impossible to penetrate behind the well organised Rangers defence, with the creative hub of the team – Moutinho and Romagnoli – both having off-nights.

On the hour mark disaster struck for the home side as Veloso and Gladstone got their wires crossed and gifted possession to Davis. The impressive midfielder conducted a classic counter attack to set up Darcheville, who easily beat Patricio to trigger wild celebrations among the big Rangers following.

Bento immediately threw on Djalo for Izmailov, and the young Portuguese striker missed a golden chance to equalise soon after when Romagnoli made a good weaving run into the box before knocking the ball to the forward who shot wide when well placed.

Tonel comes close

Minutes later Sporting again came close to an equaliser as Tonel’s header shaved the outside of the post with goalkeeper McGregor rooted to the spot.

As Sporting desperately committed more men forward Rangers took advantage to kill the match in the dying moments. Substitute Cousin had already missed incredibly from a swift counter-attack, but fellow sub Whittaker showed him how it was done as he produced an accomplished run and finish to put the gloss on a memorable night for the Scots.

Sporting must now pick themselves up as they continue to fight for second place and automatic entry into next season’s Champions League, as well as the Portuguese Cup where they take on Benfica in the semi-final next week.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Gladstone (Pereirinha, 68), Grimi (Tiui, 77), Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli, Izmailov (Djalo, 61), Liedson, Vukcevic
Yellow Cards: none

Rangers:
McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Dailly, Papac, Hemdani, Thomson, Davis, Ferguson, McCulloch (Whittaker, 77), Darcheville (Daniel Cousin, 71)
Yellow Cards: Thomson, Broadfoot, McCulloch, Ferguson, Papac

Goals:
[0-1] Darcheville, 59
[0-2] Whittaker, 91