Rangers took a major stride towards the Champions League league phase after easing past Czech side Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in their third-round qualification first-leg clash at Ibrox on Tuesday night.
A brace from French winger Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty ensured Philippe Clement’s men carry a commanding lead into next week’s return fixture in the Czech Republic. The winners of the tie will face either Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg or Belgium’s Club Brugge in the play-off round for a coveted place in Europe’s top competition.
Rangers broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Dessers combined with Gassama, laying off the ball for the 20-year-old to take a touch and slot confidently past the Plzen goalkeeper.
The hosts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time after new signing Oliver Antman was brought down in the area by Matej Vydra. Dessers kept his cool from 12 yards, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Six minutes after the restart, Gassama added his second of the evening, and fourth goal of the qualifying campaign, by nodding home to give Rangers a commanding three-goal cushion.
Elsewhere in Champions League qualifying, Swedish champions Malmo were held to a goalless draw at home by FC Copenhagen in an all-Scandinavian clash.
Attention now turns to Wednesday’s fixtures, which feature Salzburg hosting Brugge, Portugal’s Benfica travelling to Ligue 1 side Nice, and Dutch champions Feyenoord facing Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Rangers will travel to Plzen next week knowing that avoiding defeat by more than two goals will secure their passage to the play-off round and move them one step closer to a Champions League return.
Written By Rodney Mbua
