Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Malmo send nine-man Rangers crashing out

Rangers manager Ally Mccoist watched his side crash out of the Champions League in an ill-tempered tie at Malmo.
Rangers manager Ally Mccoist watched his side crash out of the Champions League in an ill-tempered tie at Malmo.
  • Rangers crash out of the Champions League after drawing 1-1 in Malmo
  • The result means Swedish champions Malmo go into final knockout round
  • Benfica, Rubin Kazan, Genk, Twente and Zurich also among teams to go through
  • 20 teams will play off in final knockout round for 10 Champions League places

(CNN) -- Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers are out of the Champions League at the third qualifying round stage after a 1-1 draw at Malmo saw them beaten 2-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Swedish side Malmo, who were beaten in the final of the 1979 tournament by Nottingham Forest, led after last week's first leg at Ibrox, and their grip on the tie was strengthened further when the visitors had Steven Whittaker sent off in the 18th minute for reacting angrily to a challenge from Jimmy Durmaz.

However, despite their numerical disadvantage, Rangers took the lead when Nikica Jelavic superbly volleyed home Maurice Edu's 24th-minute right-wing cross.

But further indiscipline then saw Madjid Bougherra ordered off in the 66th minute for elbowing Dardan Rexhepi in the back of the head, although Malmo then had a player sent off themselves when Brazilian Ricardinho was shown a second yellow card.

I don't think there is any doubt about it that indiscipline probably cost us the tie
--Rangers manager Ally McCoist

But with Rangers just 10 minutes away from sending the tie into extra time, Malmo netted the crucial goal that sent them through.

Daniel Larsson chested the ball into Jiloan Hamad's path and the Swedish international lashed home a half-volley into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist told reporters: "Obviously the result is a blow because we are out the competition but I thought for the majority of the game, when we were down to 10 and nine men, we did very well.

"However, I don't think there is any doubt about it that indiscipline probably cost us the tie," he added.

The result ensures Malmo go into the final qualifying round of the competition, while Rangers join Glasgow rivals Celtic in the final qualifying round for the Europa League group stages.

A total of 12 matches were played on Wednesday, with the other big showdown seeing Russian champions Rubin Kazan beating Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev 2-1 for a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Former champions Benfica are also through, as are Dinamo Zagreb, APOEL Nicosia, Genk, Twente, Wisla Krakow, Plzen, Zurich, Maccabi Haifa and Sturm Graz.

On Tuesday, three teams, BATE Borisov of Belarus, and Danish sides Odense and Copenhagen, also secured their places in the next round.

Those 15 teams will join five other clubs; Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Villarreal and Udinese in the final knockout stage.

Friday will see 10 two-legged ties being drawn, with the winners joining 22 other teams in the Champions League proper.

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