RANGERS UNDER-19s fell to a 6-1 defeat to Red Bull Bragantino in their final Group A clash at the Otten Innovation Cup.
The young Gers trailed narrowly at the interval, scoring through Archie Stevens minutes into the second period before the Brazilian side took the game by the scruff of the neck and embellished the scoreline.
There was early action in the contest as the Brazilian side were awarded a penalty inside two minutes when Andre Ricardo Gomes da Silva went down inside the penalty area. The Red Bull attacker assumed penalty duties himself, but he was left with his head in his hands when Mason Munn sprung to his right and thwarted the spot-kick with his legs.
The young Gers were buoyed by the early encouragement, going close on six minutes when Connor Young’s dipping free-kick from a central area whistled inches wide of the post.
Munn was prompted into action once again just moments later. After initially denying Heytor Victorino Alvarenga with a terrific diving stop, the 17-year-old bounced quickly back to his feet to deny da Silva’s rebound.
Kieron Willox then showed tremendous perseverance on the edge of the penalty area to ride a succession of challenges, arrowing an effort at goal which required the Bragantino goalkeeper to palm the ball out for a corner.
However, the Light Blues suffered a setback on 14 minutes when the Brazilian side broke the deadlock through da Silva.
Rangers continued to pose an attacking threat of their own despite the concession of the goal, threatening the Bragantino penalty area when Young failed to connect with Zander Hutton’s delivery and Lyle Wark was inches away from collecting the ball at the far post.
Kerr Robertson was next to go close for the Light Blues, arrowing a dangerous effort from 30 yards which required the Bragantino goalkeeper to tip the ball away.
The start of the second half saw the Brazilian side double their advantage when Alvarenga controlled and fired beyond Munn from close range.
The young Gers could have allowed their heads to drop, but they responded immediately when Nsio released Archie Stevens with a slide rule pass and the attacker finished with aplomb beyond the goalkeeper.
A further setback was to arise for Rangers when Bragantino restored their advantage on the half-hour mark through Filipe Gabriel Rios Rodrigues.
The Brazilian outfit stretched their advantage further when Kevyn Henrique Monteiro de Souza powered an unstoppable header which left Munn with no chance in the Gers goal.
Findlay Curtis headed over with an opportunity of his own moments later from a dangerous Mackenzie Strachan free-kick, before Bragantino added their fifth goal of the afternoon when Kaue Ricardo da Silva laid off for Pedro Henrique Ouriques Pereira to finish into the bottom corner.
The Light Blues could have grabbed a late consolation strike when neat combination play through the centre involving Curtis and James Graham freed Lewis Stewart into the left-hand side of the penalty area, with the 16-year-old drawing a save from the goalkeeper at his near post.
Filipe Gabriel Rios Rodrigues added a sixth of the contest for the Brazilian side with a header with virtually the last action of the contest.
Rangers are now set to await confirmation of tomorrow’s opposition following the conclusion of Group B later today.
RANGERS: Munn, Hutton (Adamson, 29), Wyllie, Webster, Wark (Willox, 30), Robertson, Nsio (Curtis,30), Adamson (Graham, 17; Stewart, 32), Stevens (Graham, 41), Willox (Strachan, 25), Young (Eadie, 25; Young, 41)
Subs not used: Thackray, Allan
RED BULL BRAGANTINO: Benitez Cobo, da Silva, Pereira, Carvalho, Merces, S. da Silva, de Souza, Antonio, Abdias, Alvarenga, Ataides
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