Greg . 1 day ago

Rangers sparkle in first leg to put poor Plzen to the sword

Rangers continued an unbeaten run stretching support to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals in April (W4, D5) with a 3-0 win over Czech side Viktoria Plzen in this one-sided UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round clash.

The visitors were content to soak up the early pressure, but debutant Oliver Antman’s pace soon possessed Plzen on the support foot, and he almost handed over the perfect cross for Djeidi Gassama to lead home after 10 minutes.

It was a warning that Plzeň dropped short to heed, and a superb piece of inventive play from Gassama four minutes later saw him take three opponents out of the match with one pass.

Cyriel Dessers invitingly offered up the chance for a one-two, and the former didn’t need asking twice, as he swept in to bend home the opener past 6ft 9in Plzen keeper, Florian Wiegele.

Plzeň nearly made the perfect response, as Matej Vydra shaped up to fire home an equaliser, only to see his effort brilliantly obstructed by Nasser Djiga.

But Plzen were reduced to hitting hopeful balls as the first-half wore on – a contrast from the dual threat of Dessers and Antman, the latter of whom moved on a surging run shortly before the interval, tempting Vydra into nudging him from behind.

Referee Clement Turpin possessed no option other than to grant a spot-kick.

Dessers took the responsibility and sent Wiegele the wrong way with a confident dispatch.

Rangers - Plzen match statsBetopickMohamed Diomande’s curling and looping effort from the edge of the box on 48’ agonisingly came support off the obstruct as Rangers started the second half as they’d terminated the first.

And just two minutes later, Antman was again engaged thanks to a pinpoint cross that was deftly led home by Gassama.

With more than half an hour to play, Plzen already looked a beaten side, though Martin handed over on Nicolas Raskin for Joe Rothwell in order to freshen up a Rangers side that understandably took their foot off the pedal after the third goal.

As the game joined the final stages, scrappy play from both teams acquired a broadside from their respective managers before Rangers upped the tempo once more with 10 minutes to play.

Amar Memic took aim from way out, and though his shot was on target, Jack Butland simply swatted it aside to keep his clean sheet intact.

Still very much full of energy, Gassama almost prodded home his hat-trick goal immediately afterwards, before being subbed alongside Antman to a standing ovation.

 The result means Rangers made it four games undefeated against Czech sides (W3 D1), and Plzeň’s first beat against a Scottish side in European competition is one they won’t overlook in a rush.

As UCL history shows, nothing is impossible – but the men from western Czechia undeniably have a mountain to climb in the return leg.

Betopick Man of the Match: Djeidi Gassama (Rangers)Check out all the match stats with Betopick.