HOWEVER the new prime minister decides to play it, Rangers will still be in Europe after January 31. If a week is a long time in politics then the last three days must have felt like an eternity in the life of Alfredo Morelos, a free-scoring frontman who was transformed into a figure of fun for one half of the city on Sunday when it seemed he could have played all day at Hampden without scoring. Like all good strikers, though, the little Colombian knows that if he keeps getting in where it hurts he would eventually attain your goals. And from the depths of domestic misery, the little Colombian’s redemption came last night as he racked up a statistic which made him the envy of the continent.
The first-half goal he plundered here didn’t just extend Rangers’ interest in the Europa League beyond Christmas and move him another goal clear of Henrik Larsson’s Seville-era tally of goals for a Scottish club in a single season, it also means no striker – not even Robert Lewandowski nor Salzurg wonderkid Erling Braut Haaland- has scored more in European club competition.
Having said all that, even the last few minutes here seemed like an eternity. Having exited this competition courtesy of a late Rapid Vienna goal 12 months back, Rangers went from winning the group – and joining Celtic as seeds in Monday’s last 32 draw – to almost losing everything in a harum scarum injury time period. First Borna Barisic put through his own goal, then the Ibrox side lost Ryan Jack to a second booking for a professional foul.
READ MORE: Rangers have re-established themselves in Europe after reaching knockout rounds, says Borna Barisic
There were no tears from the midfielder this time, although both he and Rangers may have cause to rue his unavailability for the next round in February. The Ibrox side will be unseeded in Monday’s draw, meaning they could face the likes of last year’s Champions League runners up Ajax – but not Celtic – although even that is progress considering how Steven Gerrard has rebuilt their European pedigree from the trauma of Progres Niederkorn.
Gerrard made just one enforced change to the side which suffered Hampden heartache in the BetFred Cup final on Sunday, with Filip Helander missing out with a foot knock and Nikola Katic back in from the cold at his expense. Saidy Janko, a one-time Ronny Deila signing for Celtic, got the nod for Young Boys, having it in his power to do his parent club Porto a favour.
Gerrard had insisted the outpouring of emotion had only proved how much they had bought into him as manager and he was generally proved right with a display which showed no shortage of belief.
While their late rally showed another side to them, if this is the best side the Swiss league has to offer then maybe the Ladbrokes Premiership isn’t so bad after all. With the exception of holding midfielder Martins Pereira, whose last gasp interventions saved two certain goals in the opening stages, they were ill at ease in the hostile surroundings of Ibrox for most of the first hour.
When Morelos had hit his first effort on goal too close to goalkeeper and Young Boys captain David van Ballmoos, maybe a few Rangers fans feared their little Colombian’s Hampden hoodoo was about to roll over for a few more days. But as any striker will tell you, it is hardly the biggest sin if you are continually putting yourself in positions to score, as Morelos was doing deep into injury time on Sunday. You just knew he would put himself back into position, especially as Young Boys centre half Frederik Sorensen – once a Juventus player – was having nightmares dealing with him as he tried to hold a foolishly high line.
READ MORE: James Tavernier reckons Rangers can be a match for anyone after clinching last 32 berth
When he charged down Sorensen’s attempted clearance, the ball spun perfectly into his path and Morelos had as much time as he wanted to pick his spot. Given everything, that might not have been ideal, but rather than go for power, he calmly rolled it under Von Ballmoos and Rangers had a priceless lead. Only he will know the meaning – but Morelos clasped his palms together in celebration. That is five European matches in a row now for the little Colombian, moving him onto 14 for the continental campaign, more than any other striker in this competition this season.
Young Boys were on the ropes now, Joe Aribo nodding narrowly wide after a trademark move down the Rangers left. Borna Barisic was at the centre of everything, targeted with missiles from the away support as he antogonised them as he prepared to take a corner.
Aside from a couple of headers from Christian Fassnacht, one of which forced a watchful tip-over by Allan McGregor, the visitors simply weren’t in this, but all that changed with the emergence of former PSG striker Guillaume Hoarou emerge from the bench. The Ibrox side lived on their nerves those last few minutes, but their European hopes live on.
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