August Match Reports

As promised, a new monthly format. Rangers bias. Hope this doesn't offend anyone, cos it don't offend me. Nice colours too!

Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 1 31/7/99 3pm, Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 48,074

Rangers Lineup: Klos, Moore ( Porrini 67,) Amoruso ( Vidmar 81,) Numan, B Fergusson, Van Bronckhorst, Wallace, Albertz, Reyna, Amato (Johansson 70,) Adamczuk

Opening day of the season, traditional raising of the flag at Ibrox and the usual three points for Rangers, not without a fight however as Rangers seemed fatigued by their European exerts. The game didn't have to go on for long however without a goal, a glorious 60 yard pass from Gio van Bronckhorst, beautifully controlled by Wallace and he slotted past Marshall with just 25 minutes gone. Rangers continued to dominate the first half, but to no avail as the first half finished 1-0. The game was levelled by Killie's Ally Mitchell, taking advantage of Moore's error to slot past Klos on 67 minutes. But just two minutes later American star Claudio Reyna capped off a fine performance, playing the one-two with Barry Fergusson to finish from a tight angle to score the winner.

Rangers 3 FC Haka 0 (agg 7-1) 4/8/99 7.45 pm, Ibrox Stadium Attendance 46,445

Rangers Lineup: Klos, Adamczuk, Moore, Amoruso, Numan (Vidmar 39,) B Ferguson (Nicholson 71,) Johansson, Van Bronckhorst, Mols (Amato 45,) Wallace, Albertz

In a tie which was already a foregone conclusion Rangers cruised through to the final qualifying round with a comfortable victory over the Finns. Goals from Rod Wallace, Johansson and out of favour fans fave Gabby Amato made the scoreline even greater as Rangers started to look to the upcoming Parma clash. Mols was withdrawn at half time to save him for Parma, but Numan was forced to leave through injury and may be out for the vital clashes with the Italians.

Hearts 0 Rangers 4 7/8/99 3 pm, Tynecastle Stadium Attendance 17,893

Rangers Lineup: Klos, Porrini, Moore (Adamczuk 45,) Amoruso, Vidmar, Reyan (I Ferguson 76,) B Ferguson, Albertz, Wallace, Mols, Johansson (Amato 76)

Hearts failed to match their great opening day performance, taking a hammering from the champions today. After an excellent 4-1 win over St Johnstone they were torn apart by a rampant Rangers side who looked unphased by their midweek European tie. Infact it was a man from outwith the continent who opened the scoring as New Yorker Claudio Reyna netted his second of the season early on. Before the half was out it was 2-0 with Dutch hitman Michael Mols showing why he's worth £4m with a fine goal. Mols turned provider for the third with some excellent feetwork to hold off the Hearts defence before laying back to Albertz for a piledriver. Reyna then added a fourth with his head to round off a convincing win for Rangers who will now face Parma with their heads held high.

Rangers 2 AC Parma 0 11/8/99 8.05 pm, Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 49,263

Rangers Lineup: Klos, Porrini, Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar (Albertz 55,) B Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Mols, Wallace, Reyna, McCann

Rangers put in one of their best european performances of recent times with a great 2-0 win over Parma at Ibrox last night. They were in control right from the off and could've gone ahead within a minute after but Wallace took too many touches and his weak shot in the end failed to trouble Buffon. Rangers were aided in their cause by the sending off of Cannavarro after just 25 minutes for a second yellow card, both for dirty tackles on Wallace. Just a matter of minutes later Rangers were ahead, Tony Vidmar cut into the box from the left flank, strolled past Sartor, and his shot deflected of Thuram over Buffon and into the net. As the half progressed Rangers continued to squander chances and as the half came to a close it was only 1-0. Parma were rarely in the game, however when Amoruso's headed clearance fell short, it took a fine save from Klos to stop Boghossian equalising for Parma on 70 minutes. However four minutes later, Rangers went two up when Wallace's cross was touched back by McCann for Reyna to drive home through Thuram's legs and past Buffon. Mols nearly made it three when his twenty-five yarder was just wide. Albertz had a penalty claim turned down and was booked for diving, and then to rub it in Buffon beat away one of his traditional piledriver's in stoppage time. They could've won by more in the end, but a two goal victory was still a tremendous acheivement for the Gers, who will have Numan fit for the return leg and they will be confident that they can qualify for the money spinning Champions League.

Rangers 4 Motherwell 1 15/8/99 6.05 pm, Ibrox Stadium Attendance 45,264

Rangers Lineup: Niemi, Porrini (Adamczuk 73,) Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar, B Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Mols, Wallace, Reyna (Albertz 73,) McCann (Johansson 84)

After a great midweek performance against one of Europe's best sides, Motherwell were never going to be any real chalenge as Rangers proved. Motherwell decided to play an open game against Rangers, and for 40 minutes it seemed to be working. But they hadn't banked on one man, Michael Mols. With 5 minutes to the interval, the dutchman spectacualarly volleyed home from a Neli McCann cross, and it didn't take long for a follow up to that. It was the same patnership again, McCann the provider cut the ball back to Mols who shot high past Goram from 10 yards out. 2-0 half time, game over. The second half was a training excercise, two more goals for Mols, neither the great Goram could do anything about, the fourth in particular a fine 20 yard volley in off the post. Motherwell were to add an injury time consolation goal, but it really made no difference as Rangers scored four for the second week running.

Rangers 4 Dundee United 1 21/8/99 3pm, Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 48,849

Rangers Lineup: Charbonnier, Porrini (Adamczuk 45,) Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar, B Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst (Albertz 65,) Mols, Reyna, Wallace, McCann

Having been at this game, I can decribe it far better than any of the others, and what a game it was. First against second and there was still the much talked about gulf between Rangers and the rest showed, but who cares? We humped them! After a quiet opening it was Reyna who opened the scoring after 25 minutes from a fine Beckham style free kick, which I got a particularly good view of! That was it, no way back for United after that. It took until the second half however for the second, this time it was Van Bronckhorst with a fine run into the box to finish with a hard shot which Combe stopped, but the backspin took it in. Minutes later it was the turn of Wallace who netted with a fine glancing header, and it was just a matter of time before number four, this time on form Tony Vidmar with a magnificent leap to power in a downward header from just a few yards out. Like last week the visitors added a late goal, DeVos with the header past Charbonnier, playing his first game since Leverkusen last November.

AC Parma 1 Rangers 0 (Rangers win 2-1 on agg!!!!!!!!!!)

25/8/99 9pm (local time,) Stadio Ennio Tardini Attendance: 28,500

Rangers lineup: Charbonnier, Porrini, Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar, Reyna, B Ferguson (Albertz 73,) Van Bronckhorst, Adamczuk (Hendry 83,) Wallace (McCann 60,) Mols

I could write a huge report about the match but I'll give the main points, Rangers won, they were better over the two legs than the UEFA cup holders, a team ranked fifty places above them by UEFA, Ortega's diving didn't pay off (filthy little cheatin Argentine scum! Ha! Ha!) Rangers will now play against the best in Europe, Celtic won't get far enough to be able to. On a lighter note Parma scored in the 69th minute. So what? We won!