Rangers run out winners in Livorno
The win will lift the pressure on boss Paul Le Guen
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Thursday, 19, Oct 2006 10:26
Rangers overcame a combination of skilful Italian opposition and driving rain to beat Livorno 3-2 away from home in the Uefa Cup.
Having dumped West Ham out of the competition in the previous round, few sides will have envied the Gers' trip to the Serie A side, but goals from Charlie Adam, Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo saw them return to Glasgow victorious.
In atrocious weather Rangers overcame goalkeeper Lionel Leitizi's initial jitters to dominate the opening period.
Novo and Boyd both missed the target after colleagues had fashioned good chances for them, but Adam ensured that they did not waste their early pressure with a 27th-minute strike.
The young midfielder latched onto Boyd's knockdown on the edge of the area and sent a fizzing drive past Livorno keeper Marco Amelia.
Just two minutes later Boyd converted from the spot after Novo was felled by former Bayern Munich star Samuel Kuffour to increase the visitors' cushion.
Livorno pulled one back as Cristiano Lucarelli fired home his own penalty on 33 minutes, but as the flurry of goals continued, Rangers restored their lead ten minutes from the break.
Again it was a cushioned header from Boyd that set up the goal, this time allowing Novo to hit a skimming, low shot over the sprawling Amelia.
Rangers survived some anxious moments as they attempted to absorb the inevitable Italian onslaught throughout the second half.
Stefano Morrone and Tomas Danilevicus both went close for the home team, but when Lucarelli pounced on a rebound to finally beat Leitzi for a second the game was deep into injury time and Rangers had done enough for victory.