NK Maribor 0
Rangers 3
Scorers: Flo (38, 72pen),
Nerlinger (56)
RANGERS can open their league season at Aberdeen on Saturday safe in the knowledge that next week they will complete the clearance of the first European hurdle barring their way to the Champions League.
Their path to what will be a considerably more difficult second qualifying tie, against Fenerbahce, was paved by a com- fortable victory in the humidity of the Ljudski Stadium.
The Ibrox side were a bit uncertain in the opening spell as the Maribor team sensed they could come up with the kind of shock that has made their name in a few short years, but they settled to a more professional performance. They were greatly inspired by the first goal, brilliantly taken by Tore Andre Flo, the star of the night, after an equally superb build-up involving the two new men, Claudio Caniggia and Russell Latapy.
That came shortly before half- time and soon after the break another new man, Christian Nerlinger, scored the second goal which punctured any remaining optimism among the Slovenian fans. They did their team no great favours by twice throwing flares on to the pitch, which will surely result in a UEFA fine for the club. That fine will be all the higher after the game was held up near the end as two of their fans raced on to the pitch before being rugby tackled to the ground by stewards.
The influence of the new players, not to mention the much criticised Flo's overall contribution - he also scored the third from the penalty spot - was a genuine bonus for the management, but it would be unfair not to point to the excellent display at the back of Craig Moore, particularly in the first half when things looked a
little rocky for the Ibrox side.
Flo, in particular, however, should be able to build on this showing and go some way to casting aside the (pounds) 12m burden he seems to have found overwheleming. Nerlinger was also impressive, using the ball intelligently and making some telling interceptions.
Despite the warnings of an intimidating atmosphere in a packed house, the scenario was more one of a noisy, happy-go-lucky party. The stadium was a little short of its 10,000 capacity and was peopled with folk waving purple and yellow balloons, the team colours.
The hope was that Rangers, who opted for a back four, with Bert Konterman in centre midfield, would dampen the celebrations early on but the opposite was nearly the case. Lorenzo Amoruso was short with a pass- back and Stefan Klos had to look sharp to nick the ball away.
That gave the locals a bit of inspiration and they quickly forced a couple of corners. Rangers seemed content to contain the eager Slovenes but they did manage on neat breakaway when Claudio Reyna sent a super pass to Fernando Ricksen, but his cross was weak.
A Simon Dvorsak free-kick was a much better effort by the opposition and its pace had the Ibrox defence in some bother, but Marinko Sarkezi could not reach the ball.
Amoruso was booked after being caught out when he hit the ball too far ahead of himself and had to impede Barnabus Sztipanovics as a result.
Rangers did releive the pressure a little when Nerlinger dummied a pass from Arthur Numan, allowing Latapy to shoot, but he was much too high with his effort. Latapy did much better when he broke clear and sent a fine pass to the unmarked Caniggia, but the Argentinian's pass towards Flo was intercepted.
Amoruso produced some fine long-distance passes after his early hesitancy and also hit a fierce free-kick from 22 yards which careered from the keeper's body before being cleared.
A flare was thrown on to the pitch from behind Klos' goal as the local support grew frustrated. Sarkezi then had his name taken for scything down Flo but the Norwegian had sweet revenge when he put Rangers in front seven minutes before the break.
Caniggia, out on the left, sent an intelligent pass crossfield to Latapy and, with the Maribor defence stretched, the Trinidadian touched the ball into Flo's path and the striker did well to turn and shoot into the far corner of the net.
Rangers put on Barry Ferguson at the start of the second half, taking off Amoruso, who had suffered a thigh knock just before half-time, and switching Konterman to the back. The Dutch referee called for an out-of-goal pause to let coloured smoke from flares disperse in front of the Maribor goalkeeper, Marko Simeunovic.
In 56 minutes, the Ibrox side came up with the second goal that may not have doused the flares but certainly dampened any Maribor ambitions. It was again a splendid score. Caniggia sent a well-measured lob to Flo at the far post and he cleverly headed it down into the path of Nerlinger, who gratefully smacked it low past the keeper.
The Slovenes were virtually out on their feet now and Rangers were coasting. They did even better, by scoring a third in 72 minutes, and again Flo was involved. He had tried to reach a ball parried by Simeunovic from a shot by substitute Michael Mols but was hauled to the ground by Stipe Balajic, who was hurt in the process. Flo converted from the spot.
Before that strike, Nerlinger had been replaced by Neil McCann and then Mols came on for Caniggia as Dick Advocaat prepared his squad for the next test, at Pittodrie on Saturday.
NK Maribor Simeunovic, Duro, Krizan, Seslar, Dvorsak, Sztipanovics, Filekovic,Balajic, Sarkezi, Cipot, Snofl. Substitutes: Murko, Golobv, Kvas, Pitamic, Znuderl, Starcevic, Vuksanovic.
Rangers Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Caniggia, Nerlinger, Flo, Reyna, Konterman, Latapy. Substitutes: Christiansen, Ferguson, Mols, McCann, Miller, Johnston, Vidmar.
Referee: Mario van der Ende (Hol)
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