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Sheyi Ojo doubles the advantage of the Rangers with a superb shot
The Rangers took control of their qualifying match for the second round of the Europa League with a dominant win over Luxembourg and the winners of 2017, Progres Niederkorn.
Joe Aribo kicked off the opening of the game as hosts screamed and Sheyi Ojo headed for center after the break.
The only disappointment for the Rangers was the lack of goals, James Tavernier missing a penalty and Ojo and Ryan Jack having efforts disavowed.
If they finish their work next week, the Rangers will face Danes Midtjylland.
However, Steven Gerrard's team could have obtained a more comfortable cushion to take to Luxembourg after a good performance against a team reduced to 10 men in the last moments.
Reaction & as it happened
Silence in the locker room and Pedro in a hedge
Creeping Rangers create a load of barrels
While the pain and humiliation inflicted on the Rangers by Progres two years ago never had any influence on the outcome of this meeting, Gerrard had already explained how much he was important to show how much the club had progressed since that difficult night.
In terms of domination, its players have certainly done it. By the time Scott Arfield managed to capture Aribo to open the score in the back of the net, the Rangers had camped in the half for almost 20 minutes. The only surprise was that they had not taken any other opportunity before.
Many more would come their way too. Alfredo Morelos controlled the center of Aribo, pivoted quickly and shot a few inches wide, Andy Halliday had blocked two attempts and Arfield's diving head was saved. Then the lineman added a second to Ojo, who took advantage of the rebound after Steven Davis's shot. And it was only the first 45.
A start of the second half-hearted period, and concerns about the surprisingly slim advantage were quickly swept away dramatically by Ojo. The curling shot of the Liverpool winger on loan flew to confirm the supremacy of the hosts.
Ojo, and Aribo in particular, shone in the middle of the field and gave the Rangers a speed and speed that made them go forward again and again. Jack nearly hit a third, but Progres goalkeeper Sebastian Lauss simply beat him after a loose ball after a superb free-flowing movement.
Substitute Jordan Jones added even more pace to the Rangers 'attack and his atrocious race terrified the visitors' defense and fired the blame that led to the penalty. The unusual absence of Tavernier will upset Gerrard, who would surely have killed the tie.
But that was not the only missed opportunity. Jack's unauthorized efforts were unfortunate and his replacement, Jermain Defoe, forced a good rescue from Lauss, and there was a load of extra casks.
Progress was reduced to 10 men when Tom Laterza received a second yellow in the last five minutes, but that hardly changed the course of the procedure. That should have been more, but the Rangers will be aware that a performance similar to next week should see them move to the next round.
James Tavernier missed the chance to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead
The queues
combat boots
1McGregor
2Tavernier
8Jack
10Davis
4Edmundson
11OjoSubstituted forStewartat 81 minutes
37ArfieldSubstituted for Jones at 66 minutes
16Halliday
6Goldson
17AriboReserved for 71mins
20MorelosSubstituted forDefoeat 75 minutes
replacements
9Défo
13Foderingham
18Kamara
19Katic
22Jones
24Stewart
31Barisic
Progress Niederkorn
1Flauss
5Vogel
22TekielaSubstituted forFrancoiseat 80 minutes
4SkenderovicSubstituted by Matias Marquesat at 33 minutes
10MuratovicSubstituted at Maeeat 45 minutes
23Ferino
32LaterzaReserved for 88mins
7de Almeida
40Silaj
38Karayer
34Hall
replacements
8Cervellera
9Bastos
11mmaee
14Françoise
70Matias Brands
81Czekanowicz
97Shala
Arbitrator:
Espen Eskas
Source: bbc.com
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