2 years ago
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Alex Moucketou-Moussounda's bullet header opened the scoring for ArisSteven Davis' stint as caretaker manager got off to the worst possible start as a lacklustre Rangers slumped to Europa League defeat away to Aris Limassol.
Alex Moucketou-Moussounda headed home inside nine minutes before Shavy Babicka's first-time strike doubled the Cypriot side's lead in the second half.
Abdallah Sima pulled one back for Rangers, but Aris - who are currently fifth in their domestic league - stood firm to compound Rangers' miserable start to the season.
The Ibrox side now sit third in Group C, with all four sides on three points from two games.
There is often an upturn in performances after a managerial departure, but Rangers were wretched in Cyprus.
They picked up where they left off in the 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen and Aris took full advantage of Rangers' uninspired start.
Moucketou-Moussounda ghosted into the box and powered a header beyond Jack Butland to give the hosts the lead, and minutes later they could and should have doubled their advantage.
Leo Bengtsson, having set up the goal, found himself completely unmarked in the middle of the Rangers box, but fired high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
There was no sign of a response from Rangers and Aris went into the break having hardly broken sweat.
The game continued in the same vein after the break with Rangers blunt in attack and shaky in defence, and Aris doubled their lead with an excellent goal.
John Lundstram was left for dead by the impressive Bengtsson, who picked out Babicka in the middle. The Gabon international swept home to deepen Rangers' woe and highlight the depths to which the Ibrox side have sunk.
Sima did head beyond Vana to halve the deficit, but in truth, Aris still looked the more likely to find the back of the net and only a wonderful Butland save kept Rangers in the contest.
There was a late spell of pressure from Davis' side, but they lacked the composure and quality needed to snatch a point.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Aris Limassol
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Vaná
- 6BoakyeBooked at 52minsSubstituted forBrorssonat 80'minutes
- 20Yago
- 5Moucketou-MoussoundaBooked at 29mins
- 72Urosevic
- 23StruskiSubstituted forBrownat 67'minutes
- 37Szöke
- 21Mayambela
- 14GomisBooked at 75minsSubstituted forStepinskiat 89'minutes
- 7BengtssonSubstituted forKokorinat 67'minutes
- 80BabickaSubstituted forSpoljaricat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Brown
- 9Kokorin
- 10Spoljaric
- 11Stepinski
- 12Dimitriou
- 31Brorsson
- 66Montnor
- 78Chrysostomou
- 90Sofroniou
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butland
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 31Barisic
- 4Lundstram
- 43RaskinSubstituted forCifuentesat 68'minutes
- 23WrightSubstituted forMcCauslandat 84'minutes
- 14LammersSubstituted forRoofeat 68'minutes
- 19SimaBooked at 50mins
- 9DessersBooked at 64mins
Substitutes
- 5Souttar
- 15Cifuentes
- 21Sterling
- 25Roofe
- 28McCrorie
- 32Wright
- 38King
- 44Devine
- 45McCausland
- 47Fraser
- 48Lyall
- 93McKinnon
Live Text
Match ends, Aris Limassol 2, Rangers 1.
Second Half ends, Aris Limassol 2, Rangers 1.
Attempt blocked. Ben Davies (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Franz Brorsson.
Abdallah Sima (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol).
Attempt missed. Matija Spoljaric (Aris Limassol) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mariusz Stepinski.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Július Szöke.
Substitution, Aris Limassol. Matija Spoljaric replaces Shavy Babicka.
Substitution, Aris Limassol. Mariusz Stepinski replaces Yannick Gomis.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Vaná (Aris Limassol).
Attempt missed. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
Substitution, Rangers. Ross McCausland replaces Scott Wright.
Foul by Cyriel Dessers (Rangers).
Vaná (Aris Limassol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Aris Limassol. Franz Brorsson replaces Eric Boakye because of an injury.
Foul by John Lundstram (Rangers).
Aleksandr Kokorin (Aris Limassol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Borna Barisic (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Aris Limassol
Squad number1Player nameVaná Alves
Squad number6Player nameBoakye
Squad number20Player nameYago
Squad number5Player nameMoucketou-Moussounda
Squad number72Player nameUrosevic
Squad number23Player nameStruski
Squad number37Player nameSzöke
Squad number21Player nameMayambela
Squad number14Player nameGomis
Squad number7Player nameBengtsson
Squad number80Player nameBabicka
Squad number8Player nameBrown
Squad number9Player nameKokorin
Squad number10Player nameSpoljaric
Squad number11Player nameStepinski
Squad number31Player nameBrorsson
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameDavies
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number14Player nameLammers
Squad number19Player nameSima
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Squad number15Player nameCifuentes
Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Squad number45Player nameMcCausland
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