RANGERS were defeated 2-0 by a strong Lyon side in the opening match of the UEFA Europa League group stages this evening.
A first-half goal from Karl Toko Ekambi saw the visitors ahead at the break before an own goal doubled their lead in the second-half.
For the coaching staff, it was their 50th European match in charge as Rangers kicked-off their fourth consecutive season in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.
Steven Gerrard named four changes from the victory over St Johnstone at the weekend with Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram coming into the starting XI. Fil Helander missed out through injury with Jon McLaughlin, Calvin Bassey and Kemar Roofe on the bench.
The Light Blues started the match brightly and dominated possession in the early stages. With seven minutes on the clock, Ryan Kent broke down the left and whipped a dangerous ball into the box in search of Alfredo Morelos.
A Lyon defender managed to clear the ball before it reached the Gers striker, but it fell to Steven Davis outside the box. The midfielder struck it powerfully on the half-volley but it was just wide of the Lyon goal.
Shortly after, Connor Goldson picked out Borna Barisic with a lovely ball and the Croatian took a touch before delivering into the box in search of Alfredo Morelos but Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was quick off his line to gather the ball.
However, despite the strong start, it was the visitors who took the lead at Ibrox in the 23rd minute. Karl Toko Ekambi picked up on a loose ball inside the Rangers half and turned to bend a low shot from distance into the back of the net.
Gers looked for a quick response as Joe Aribo saw a shot saved by Lopes at the near post. With 10 minutes of the first-half remaining Rangers almost had an equaliser after good pressure from Ryan Kent saw him skip beyond a Lyon defender at the by-line to find Alfredo Morelos in the box. The striker touched the ball into the path of John Lundstram who hit a powerful strike towards goal but it curled just inches wide of the target.
Rangers were knocking on the door for an equaliser before the break as Borna Barisic found Ryan Kent in the box and he turned well to guide a shot goalwards but Lopes pulled off a fantastic save to block the low effort and leave the scoreline 1-0 to the visitors at the interval. Lyon made it 2-0 just ten minutes into the second-half.
Allan McGregor did well to block a shot from Lucas Paqueta but the rebound fell to Silmani who fired a shot on target which Connor Goldson and James Tavernier attempted to block on the line. Unfortunately, the clearance ricocheted off of the Gers captain and landed in the back of the net to double the visitors’ advantage.
Rangers were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position in the 64th minute which Tavernier stepped up to take but he was unlucky as the set-piece brushed the crossbar before the danger was cleared by Lyon.
Steven Gerrard was forced into his second change of the match just a minute later as Ryan Kent appeared to pick-up an injury as he raced down the wing and was replaced by Kemar Roofe.
Fashion Jr saw an effort from distance go over the bar, before Leon Balogun had a header come close from a James Tavernier free-kick.
Rangers kept pushing as they searched for a route back into the match but were unable to get on the scoresheet as Lyon saw out the match.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Lundstram, Davis (Wright, 59), Kamara, Aribo (Fashion Jr, 76), Kent (Roofe, 70), Morelos Subs: McLaughlin, McCrorie, Bassey, Patterson, Bacuna, Kelly, Arfield, McClelland.
Lyon: Lopes, Emerson, Denayer, Ekambi (Shaqiri, 71), Aouar, Paqueta, Gusto, Slimani, Caqueret, Boateng (Diomande, 65), Guimaraes. Subs: Pollersbeck, Bonnevie, Lukeba, Milagres, Cherki, Kelta, Da Silva, Barcola. Referee: Andreas Ekberg (SWE) A subscription to RangersTV starts from just £6 per month, and provides not only exclusive access to the club’s teams, but also original feature videos and documentaries, our incredibly popular Inside Ibrox and Away Days shows and our extensive archive of match action from through the years.
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