Sturm Graz 2 (Horvat 7, Kiteishvili 35) Rangers 1 (Gassama 49)
Attendance 15,532
By Robert McElroy
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Rangers suffered a second consecutive Europa League defeat with a 1-2 reversal in Graz on Thursday evening – but in a game of two halves the Ibrox men came agonisingly close to retrieving a two-goal interval deficit only to be denied by ‘Man-of-the-Match’ home ‘keeper Oliver Christensen.
Russell Martin made one change from Livingston with Youssef Chermiti coming in for Bojan Miovski.
A raucous, thunderous atmosphere greeted both teams in the small ground deemed unsuitable by UEFA for last season’s Champions League fixtures but acceptable for the Europa League.
Rangers – effectively wearing all-white with the blue and red bands on top, got off to the worst possible start, conceding the opening goal in the seventh minute when Jack Butland somehow mishandled a Tomi Horvat shot from a Maurice Malone pass.
Seven minutes later the ‘Gers ‘keeper had to be alert, blocking a Belmin Beganovic shot at his near post.
The Ibrox men came straight back at the other end however with Youssef Chermiti’s header from a Djeidi Gassama cross striking the crossbar.
Chermiti again came close just after the half-hour mark when his shot on the turn from an Oliver Antman opening was held by the home ‘keeper
The Austrians however continued to look the more threatening, pouring forward at every opportunity.
The second goal when it arrived however was a truly dreadful one for the visitors to concede in the 35th minute – a quickly-taken free-kick by Horvat catching the ‘Gers defence asleep as Otar Kiteishvili raced clear to slot he ball home.
Once again Rangers did attempt to hit back quickly – James Tavernier’s chip being turned over by Christensen, then with the interval fast approaching Nico Raskin should have done better than fire over from an Antman cutback.
A disappointing first-half ended with the Ibrox men trailing by two goals – but as so often under Russell Martin the second 45 minutes would be a different story entirely.
A double interval substitution saw Max Aarons and Miovski introduced for Jayden Meghoma and the ineffective Antman with Derek Cornelius moving to left-back and James Tavernier into central defence.
The changes had an immediate effect – Gassama racing through on a Raskin ball four minutes after the restart to blast home a shot from the edge of the area.
Suddenly it was an entirely different game – and incredibly Rangers now looked like levelling the scores with Gassama a constant threat on the left.
One run by the winger just before the hour mark provided Youssef Chermiti with a clear sight of goal from the edge of the area only for Christensen to prove equal to the task.
Midway through the second-half Joe Rothwell substituted for Connor Barron – but Christensen was proving to be the outstanding player afield when in quick succession on 76 minutes he denied both Cornelius and John Souttar, whose header from a Tavernier cross appeared certain to provide the crucial equaliser,
With time running out Mikey Moore and Danilo were introduced as the ‘Gers manager went for broke – and it was a move that was agonisingly close to succeeding with firstly a Danilo volley held by Christensen and a Souttar drive producing a superb save from the home ‘keeper as he turned the powerful drive over.
Time eventually ran out on Rangers, with a second consecutive Europa league defeat the outcome.
If however there is any consolation for ‘Gers fans, four years ago Rangers also suffered defeat in their opening two Europa League Group Stage fixtures – yet by the season’s end they were travelling to Seville to contest the Final.
Sturm Graz: Christensen; Oermann (Mitchell 73), Aiwu, Gorenc Stankovic, Lavalee, Karic; Horvat (Geyrhofer 83) Kiteishvili (Grgic73), Chukwiani; Malone (Jatta 73), Beganovic (Hodl 59)
Unused Subs: Wiener-Pucher, Bignetti, Beck, Hierlander, Haider, Wienhandl
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius (Moore 79), Meghoma (Aarons 46); Antman (Miovski 46), Barron (Rothwell 69), Raskin, Aasgaard (Danilo 84), Gassama; Youssef Chermiti
Unused Subs: Wright, Kelly, Cameron, Djiga, Rice. Curtis, McCallion
Referee: Umut Meler (Turkey)