Rangers and Blackburn register Uefa wins
Paul Le Guen enjoyed a break from domestic worries with his Rangers side
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Thursday, 02, Nov 2006 10:39
Both Rangers and Blackburn topped their respective Uefa Cup groups and completed a successful night for British clubs with wins over continental opposition this evening.
Rangers got off to a flying start in their tie with Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa as Nacho Novo burst onto a Kris Boyd flick-on before rifling home with just five minutes gone.
The visitors had proved a stern test for Liverpool in a Champions League qualifier earlier this season, but the Gers dominated the game and were gifted a chance to double their lead shortly after the break.
Dado Prso was fortunate to win a penalty when he seemed to have been legitimately dispossessed by Alon Harazi, but Boyd's spot-kick was beaten away by Nir Davidovitch to keep his side in the game.
Their interest was killed off though when Charlie Adam showed his teammate how to convert from 12 yards after Barry Ferguson had been felled in the box late on in the game.
Blackburn relied on a late flurry of goal to see them to a 3-0 win over Swiss side Basle in Group E.
Turkish midfielder Tugay set them on their way with a fizzing 30-yard shot that found the net after 75 minutes, before Francis Jeffers slotted home a late penalty and Benni McCarthy added further gloss to the scoreline with an injury-time goal.