Rangers vs Lyon, 2007/08 UEFA Champions League, 2007 First Phase

· UEFA Champions League

Rangers

90'+1': Jean Claude Darcheville

FT
0 - 3

Lyon

16': Sidney Govou
85': Karim Benzema
88': Karim Benzema

About

Rangers are hosting Lyon at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0': So, it was Liverpool's Champions League D-day last night, this evening it is the turn of Rangers, who only need a point to make the knock-out stages of the competition. However, their opponents Lyon need all three points to secure their passage to the last 16. It should be an intriguing evening.....
0': The teams are in and it looks like Walter Smith is employing his favoured European 4-5-1 formation. They line up as follows: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Hemdani, Thomson, Whittaker, Ferguson, McCulloch, Cousin.
0': And for Lyon: Vercoutre, Clerc, Squillaci, Anderson, Grosso, Juninho, Toulalan, Kallstrom, Govou, Benzema and Ben Arfa. Keep an eye out for striker Sidney Govou, who has interested plenty of British clubs in the past, as well as playmaker Juninho and everyone's favourite buy on a popular managerial simulation game from a few years ago, the erstwhile Kim Kallstrom.
0': As you'd expect, there is an immense atmosphere inside Ibrox. There can't be many more lively places to watch football in Britain once they get going.
0': Here come the teams to a wall of sound.
1': Here we go, can Rangers make it six British clubs into the Champions League last 16? Let's hope so.
2': Rangers are the one's stroking it around nicely so far, and Barry Ferguson just fails to pick out McCulloch with a long ball.
3': Whittaker is released now and his cross goes behind for a corner to the home side.
4': Juninho clears the corner and a session of head tennis ensues in the centre circle.
5': What a glorious chance for Lyon! A superb ball from Juninho inside Alan Hutton puts in Govou but he has missed a golden chance to give the French side an early, and crucial, lead.
6': At the other end Ferguson whips in a ball towards Whittaker but goalkeeper Vercoutre clears, and the flag was up anyway.
7': A bright start from both teams, Rangers enjoying the majority of possession but Lyon the side who produced the game's first, gilt-edged, chance. Will they come to regret that later on?
8': Decent break from Rangers and uncertainty in the Lyon area. Whittaker broke well but just couldn't direct a header from Papac's cross towards goal.
9': Thomson has been booked for hauling down Benzema who was in full flight. Juninho to take it, worrying times for Rangers.
10': Decent curling strike round the wall but McGregor reads it well. From the corner Cuellar clears into Hemdani, his own player, and the ball just squirms wide.
11': The referee has just had a word with Allan McGregor to warn him about time-wasting. There's only 11 minutes gone! The Rangers keeper nods his head wearily.
12': Lyon do spread the ball well in possession but there was no cut-and-thrust at the end of that move and Papac slides in to tackle Govou.
13': Walter Smith looks content with his team's start so far...
14': Now, another corner for Rangers.
15': Poor delivery for Ferguson - far too deep for all his team-mates. Chance gone.
16': Well played Alan Hutton, making sure Govou has no time on the ball.
17': Govou scores! Lyon have their precious goal! Benzema was released by Ben Arfa, his cross-cum-shot was parried by McGregor and Govou had a tap in. Rangers 0-1 Lyon.
18': Disaster for Rangers, and they can't say they weren't warned as Govou should have converted his earlier chance.
19': The French fans are in full voice now as the home supporters put their head in their hands.
20': Rangers are reeling here; Cuellar makes a vital tackle to rob Ben Arfa of a clear run on goal. They need to steady their nerves.
21': So, roles are now reversed. Rangers are the ones needing a goal, whereas Lyon can just sit tight and focus on keeping a clean sheet. A complete tactical turnaround.
22': Two decent shots on target from Rangers there. Whittaker burst forward and smashed a drive in which Vercoutre parried, then Papac had a follow up shot that was a far more routine save.
23': Alan Hutton is booked for a wreckless challenge from behind on Govou and that rules him out of Rangers next European game, whenever it may be.
24': Lyon have been robbed of a corner there, Grosso fired it off Hutton but Rangers get a goal kick.
25': A decent spell of possession for Rangers that will hopefully steady them. Barry Ferguson is at the heart of things, as usual.
26': Great counter attack by Lyon, from a Rangers free-kick Benzema broke and failed to release Govou when he was screaming for it. It could have got worse for Rangers.
27': Walter Smith didn't see the goal as he was busy running between the touchline and his seat in the stands.
28': Benzema again looks threatening. He drops off into the hole, picks up a ball from Grosso and lets fly. Thankfully for the Scots he rather fluffs his drive.
29': Its been all Lyon in the last five minutes, and they do play some wonderful flowing football. Rangers will be lucky to get in at 0-1 at this rate.
30': Sasa Papac is down for Rangers and is being helped onto a stretcher by some burly looking paramedics.
31': Whittaker looks like he's gone to left back while Papac's injury is assessed.
32': Steven Naismith is warming up if Papac can't continue. The big man is up and about again now and should be back imminently.
33': More lovely football from Lyon, Ben Arfa flicks the ball to Kallstrom who spreads it to Grosso, his pass inside finds Govou but the goal scorer's cross is headed behind for a corner.
34': Great battling from Kevin Thomson, who wins a corner for Rangers.
35': Its another Lyon keep ball session at present, and Juninho has been their main man in this half so far.
36': A poor ball from Papac nearly undid Rnagers then! Govou just failed to latch onto the stray pass, then Juninho finds Benzema inside the box but his shot is high and wide.
37': David Weir shows his age there, dithering when he should have stuck the ball into Row Z. He didn't, Govou steals the ball and Weir concedes a free-kick.
38': Lyon are claiming a free-kick as Cousin went in on Squillaci but no foul given, a corner to Rangers instead.
39': McCulloch's header was blocked then Whittaker should have hit the rebound first time but he hesitated and the danger is averted.
39': This is the best spell Rangers have had in the half but they are still without a clear cut chance. Will it appear before half-time?
40': Lyon look a very compact team - plenty of numbers when they attack but men behind the ball when they are on the defensive too.
41': The crowd have also gone very quiet, which is unlike them.
42': Decent work at the back by Cuellar, sheparding Govou out of the danger area.
43': Now McCulloch looks hurt after an aerial challenge with Clerc.
44': For all their silky attacking work Lyon still look a little suspect on crosses and Rangers are trying to play on that as the half draws to a close.
45': One minute of stoppage time to play.
45': There is the whistle. A disappointing half for Rangers, who are being outclassed on the deck by the French side, but there is still enough passion endeavour in the home side's locker to retrieve the situation in the second half. Stay tuned...
46': A massive 45 minutes ahead for Rangers. Can their industry and determination find a goal against a classy Lyon side? They've brought on Steven Naismith for Daniel Cousin which means they may well go two up top.
47': Smart early play by Barry Ferguson, who touches the ball back to Whittaker but he can't make space for the cross.
47': Well, a signal of Rangers' attacking intent is the centre-half Papac charging forward and beating two players. The move ends in a free-kick to Rangers and a yellow card for Govou.
48': Govou looks in a spot of bother after giving away that foul, he's holding his arm and wincing in pain.
49': Poor free-kick from the Rangers skipper - straight into the wall. Rangers re-group.
50': Its been a lively start by the home side, Alan Hutton getting to the byline there and whipping in a cross that eluded McCulloch.
51': Ooh, so nearly an equaliser! Hutton's cross drifts towards the net Vercoutre shanks his punch and from the spillage McCulloch volleys wide.
52': I'll be amazed if Rangers don't pepper the keepr with shots and crosses now - he looked decidedly dodgy during that last exchange.
52': A good spell of pressure ends in a poor ball from Hemdani. Hutton was screaming for it out wide as well.
53': Now is the time for Rangers, the visitors are wobbling. If they sustain this possession and pressure they'll really get to see what the questionable Vercoutre is capable of.
54': Allan Hutton sums up the new-found spirit in the home ranks after chasing down Govou for 50 yards and winning a throw-in from the French striker.
55': The longer time goes on, the more Lyon will sit back and invite pressure. Then it will start to get REALLY tense!
56': Just as I say that Lyon hit back and Toulalan goes on a mazy run - only stopped when Cuellar hacks him to the deck. He is booked for his trouble. Dangerous area to concede a free-kick, especially with Juninho lurking.
57': Off the bar! Juninho curls in a ripper and with McGregor helpless, the ball cannons back off the frame of the goal!
58': That is less pretty from Juninho, he slides in on Ferguson and is carded.
59': Whittaker leaps well to meet the free-kick but his nod across goal isn't greeted by anyone in a white Rangers shirt.
60': Half an hour is all that is left of Rangers' Champions League campaign as things stand. Who's going to stick their hand up, come to the party, and prove a hero?
61': Hemdani curls in a free-kick that picked out Cuellar but he is off balance and his header flies wide.
62': A good testing cross comes in from Papac but for once Vercoutre looks relatively in control as he punches clear.
63': With the game entering its final third it looks as if we have settled on a pattern that will dominate the remaining 26 minutes. Lyon sitting deep, Rangers punting the ball long.
64': Rangers have Jean-Claude Darchville and Kris Boyd on the bench by way of attacking options.
65': This time Whittaker's delivery lets him down after good work from Hemdani.
65': Now it is Hutton who misplaces a cross when well placed.
66': At the other end Weir does well to edge Govou off the ball.
67': Lyon are making a change, Mathiue Bodmer is coming on for Hatem Ben Arfa. A defender on in place of a striker. Telling. Very telling.
68': Ferguson tries to engineer a through ball for Naismith but he hits it far too long.
69': Allan Hutton is a lucky boy! Juninho charged towards the area and the right back flew in. The referee, inexplicably, doesn't give the foul and Rangers survive!
70': Ooh! Kevin Thomson hits one left-footed but it flashes just wide of the post!
71': Darchville is on for Papac as Rangers throw the dice.
72': Good work from Govou after Grosso released him, he cut inside and fired in a left foot shot but McGregor is well behind it.
73': This keeper is hilarious! McCulloch hits a drive which should have been a regulation catch but for some reason Vercoutre punches! It ends up as a corner.
74': For once Rangers' delivery is decent but Cuellar can't meet Ferguson's cross.
75': Toulalan intercepts a Ferguson pass and needed more options from his side. He chose Benzema who is ushered away from goal by Weir.
76': There are fifteen minutes left for Rangers to salvage their Champions League dreams.
77': Govou - the match winner as it stands - is off to be replaced by Anthony Reveillere.
78': Great break from the substitute Reveillere! He charges down the right and his cross is flicked clear by Weir as Benzema tried to meet it.
79': Darchville does well to nip in front of Squillaci and win a free-kick.
80': Hemdani hits the one man wall with the free-kick. Unforgivable that.
80': How did Lyon not score! Benzema streaked clear rounded McGregor but Cuellar blocked his shot in front of an empty net!
81': Then Rangers have a glorious chance! Ferguson drives into the area, pulls the ball back across the six yard line and Darchville somehow manages to hit the bar from four yards out! Unbelievable drama!
82': Lyon break again from a Rangers corner and Toulalan is felled by Thomson. He needs to be careful, having already been booked.
83': What a breathless period of play that was! Lyon should have scored at one end, then Rangers had an amazing chance to snatch the goal they desperately need. How did Darchville not score?!
84': This game is wide open now, Rangers are throwing everything at Lyon but leaving massive gaps at the back. It was actually Steven Whittaker that made the goal line block when Benzema looked certain to score.
85': Kris Boyd is on for Hemdani. Last throw of the dice from Walter Smith.
85': Lyon make a change too, Juninho is off and Milan Baros (remember him?!) is on.
86': Oh no! Benzema is found by a long ball as Cuellar stumbled and he pokes the ball under McGregor and in. Rangers 0-2 Lyon. Game over.
87': That is the hammer blow and it had been coming. In truth Benzema should have scored at least two by now. It felt like it at the time and so it proved, Jean-Claude Darchville had qualification in his hands but somehow hit the bar when it looked easier to score.
87': Goal! Benzema strikes again, the 19-year-old puts the game beyond all doubt with a mazy run and a powerful right foot shot from the edge of the area. A super goal worthy of his excellent performance. Rangers 0-3 Lyon.
88': It is now a reverse of the scoreline in France when Rangers stunned Lyon 0-3 in their own backyard.
90': Three minutes of injury time left
91': Things go from bad to worse as Jean-Claude Darchville lashes out at Toulalan and gets a straight red card. What an awful cameo from him.
92': The ground is emptying very swiftly now as realisation hits home that Rangers' Champions League dream is over for another year.
93': Still, Rangers will have a crack at the UEFA Cup and may very well go far....
94': It's all over. A comprehensive defeat for a valiant Rangers who were still in the game up until the 84th minute. Remember the name Karim Benzema too, he had an awesome game. Until next time....

Statistics

LYON		RAN
18	Fouls	13
2	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	1
2	Offsides	1
3	Corner Kicks	7
3	Saves	3
39.8	Possession	60.2
15	SHOTS	10
6	ON GOAL	3
0.4	On Target %	0.3
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
229	Accurate Passes	359
302	Passes	457
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.8
1	Accurate Crosses	3
8	Crosses	22
0.1	Cross %	0.1
43	Long Balls	62
20	Accurate Long Balls	37
0.5	Long Balls %	0.6
0	Blocked Shots	0
12	Effective Tackles	13
14	Tackles	18
0.9	Tackle %	0.7
0	Interceptions	0
36	Effective Clearances	13
67	Clearances	23

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Ibrox Stadium
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Line-Ups

Rangers

No.	Name
1	Allan McGregor (GK)
24	Carlos Cuéllar
5	Sasa Papac
28	Steven Whittaker
2	Alan Hutton
3	David Weir
8	Kevin Thomson
7	Brahim Hemdani
6	Barry Ferguson
27	Lee McCulloch
29	Daniel Cousin

Rangers Substitutes:

Jean Claude Darcheville, Amdy Faye, Charlie Adam, Steven Naismith, Kris Boyd, Roy Carroll, Kirk Broadfoot.

Lyon

No.	Name
30	Rémy Vercoutre (GK)
29	Sébastien Squillaci
11	Fabio Grosso
2	François Clerc
22	Anderson
28	Jérémy Toulalan
6	Kim Källström
8	Juninho
14	Sidney Govou
10	Karim Benzema
18	Hatem Ben Arfa

Lyon Substitutes:

Loïc Rémy, Frederic Roux, Milan Baros, Kader Keita, Mathieu Bodmer, Nadir Belhadj, Anthony Reveillere.

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