Rangers slip to narrow defeat in Israel
Walter Smith will hope to win the second leg at Ibrox
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Wednesday, 14, Feb 2007 10:27
Rangers lost 2-1 to Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the first leg of their Uefa Cup encounter but the away goal will give them hope of progressing in the tournament.
The Scottish side failed to trouble the Hapoel defence much in the first half. Nacho Novo had the best chance after good work down the flank by Chris Burke but the striker could only head wide from six yards out.
Salim Toama broke the deadlock just before the break with a well struck free-kick. He curled it past the helpless Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal from 25 yards out.
Rangers felt they should have been awarded a penalty five minutes into the second half for a handball but their claims were turned down.
They did not have to wait long for an equaliser. Barry Ferguson was fouled just outside the area, his free-kick was deflected on to the post and Novo was the first to react - duly turning the ball in.
However, Hapoel took the spoils when a slick passing move allowed Barukh Dego into the box to score the winner.
Elsewhere in the Uefa Cup Werder Bremen beat Ajax 3-0 in the first leg of their encounter. The Dutch side had Olaf Lindenbergh sent off in the first half and Bremen took advantage as the game wore on.
Per Mertesacker scored the opener from a corner after 48 minutes, Naldo made it two five minutes later and Torsten Frings added a third with 20 minutes remaining.
Fenerbahçe and AZ Alkmaar played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in Turkey, while Fabrizio Miccoli scored a 90th-minute winner for Benfica against Dinamo Bucharest.