Rangers 1-4 Sevilla
Fabiano scored Sevilla's third before setting up Kanoute to seal an emphatic win at Ibrox
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By Will Haine. |  |
Tuesday, 29, Sep 2009 09:39
By Matt Hallam.
Luis Fabiano starred for Sevilla as Rangers collapsed to a 4-1 defeat at Ibrox.
Walter Smith's side were the better team in the first-half with Steven Naismith unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.
However, Sevilla emerged after the break in a ruthless mood, scoring four goals in 24 minutes.
Abdoulay Konko headed them into the lead before Fabiano set up Adriano to curl his shot past Alan McGregor. Fabiano headed in Frederic Kanoute's cross to score the Spanish side's third before returning the favour for Kanoute to seal victory.
Substitute Nacho Novo scored a late consolation for Rangers, firing a fierce drive past Andres Palop, but the Scottish champions were well beaten.
Smith welcomed back Sasa Papac and Steven Davis after their recovery from injury, whilst Naismith started as a lone striker with Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller on the bench.
Naismith looked isolated up front in the early stages but Rangers managed to piece a good passing move together with Kevin Thompson teeing up Pedro Mendes with a back heel, however, he dragged his shot wide.
Rangers were soon under pressure though with Alan McGregor making a fine save from Kanoute after he met Jesus Navas' cross from the right.
The Scottish champions began to grow in confidence as they took charge of possession and when Steven Whittaker's cross was only half cleared Lee McCulloch sent a fierce volley flying just inches over the bar from the edge of the box before shooting wide after bursting into Sevilla's box.
Smith's side continued to look dangerous and should have been awarded a penalty when Naismith was brought down in the area by Konko, however, the referee waved the striker's protests away to the disbelief of the Rangers players and the Ibrox crowd.
Madjid Bougherra almost gifted Sevilla the lead before half-time when he tried to run the ball out of defence. Adriano stole the ball from him and released a shot from the right of the box which McGregor saved well. The rebound fell to Navas but he could only shoot over from a tight angle.
Rangers started the second-half brightly with McCulloh heading over from Jerome Rothen's free-kick, however, poor defending allowed Sevilla to take the lead.
Lolo took a quick free-kick to Navas on the right who had time to pause before crossing for the unmarked Konko to head past McGregor.
Rangers responded well with Papac inches away from sliding in Whittaker's cross at the back post and Thompson forcing a good save from Palop with a dipping shot from 25-yards.
Sevilla looked menacing on the counter attack though and a slick one-two between Kanoute and Fabiano allowed the Brazilian to pull the ball back for Adriano to slot the ball past McGregor.
Smith's team capitulated soon after, conceding two goals in two minutes. Fabiano rose high at the back post to power a header past McGregor before racing clear of a weary Rangers defence and setting up strike partner Kanoute to score Sevilla's fourth.
Nacho Novo came on to score a late consolation goal when he cut in from the left to smash a shot past Palop, but his effort came too late to influence the game and the Seville side ran out as comfortable winners.