Rangers 4-0 FCSB (UEFA Europa League Group Stages)
One of the saddest stories in Romanian football is the naming rights argument over Steaua Bucharest, the great team that once beat Barcelona to become champions of Europe, that brought us players like Hagi, Lacatus and Dumitrescu, that is their nations most famous and successful with 27 (many now debatable) league titles.
The story is that the army which the club was founded from, have simply taken their name back, which means Steaua since 2017 have been rebranded as FCSB, and I for one still can't get used to it.
Rangers had similar rebranding, all be it not by name, after falling into administration in 2011, the club who have a whopping 55 domestic league titles, had to pick themselves up from the fourth tier of Scottish football and have had just one championship success since enforced relegation, all be it stopping rivals Celtic in their tracks, who went a record equalling nine years of championships on the trot.
Things haven't been going that well for Rangers this season either, manager Phillipe Clement coming under increasing pressure after a 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock on Sunday, the Gers sit third in the Scottish Premier Division already six points behind Celtic and Aberdeen.
Rumour is FCSB will rest players tonight, they beat Dinamo Bucharest in their big domestic derby at the weekend, striker Daniel Birligea scoring a cracking overhead kick in a 2-0 win, they have another derby this weekend against Rapid Bucharest which is said to take precedent, they sit fifth in their domestic table but are going well in the Europa League with two wins from two. Rangers after a winning start at Malmö were recently thumped 4-1 at Ibrox by Lyon.
I'm hiring a car today, a 2024 plate Fiat 500 which I pick up from Europcar to save the miles on my own, across the A50 and up the M6/M74 it's a five hour 300 mile drive which gets me to Govan by 5:30pm.
The Venue
I've parked up just off the Paisley Road and walk the remaining few hundred yards down the Edmiston Drive. Lights appearing of the stunning art deco home, Ibrox stands tall with four imposing stands almost identical.
Lucky enough, I'm through the main players entrance and reception which is stunning, mahogany walled and marble floored, fans have already congregated outside as I walk through security with a TV camera pointing in my face, in the distance lights of police bikes and a large bus, I'm not sure if it's the home or away team that's arriving but I'm told to wait by security until they disappear, then I'm through the players tunnel, into the press lounge, up the stairs and to my desk in the commentary positions along half way.
There's a young lad here who's a Celtic fan, he's on TV testing duty but has done his work for the night, he gets to enjoy the game and is a chatty lad who keeps me company, by now the FCSB fans are penned in the far corner of a blue seated arena, making a racket as I'm handed tonight's teams sheet, the pitch perfect and the stands slowly starting to fill, not complete capacity tonight, a few spare, but it feels like a big night for the Rangers boss who really cannot afford to lose.
The Game
FCSB have as expected made a few changes and the start from both sides is sluggish as neither can get a grip on the ball, in the opening minute, Rangers goalkeeper Butland takes a heavy touch and is closed down by Miculescu who challenges before sliding home into the empty net, the fans ringing out their angry disapproval to Butland who is saved by the Referees whistle, who chalks out the goal for the softest of infringement.
That error and the noise from above seems to affect Rangers confidence, they play with fear as voices in the crowd begin to get agitated, FCSB have no rhythm either having made six changes, Rangers have no rhythm just because, but out of nothing, Tom Lawrence let's fly from the edge of the area and the home side are one up.
The Score
Still it's not perfect, still Rangers give the ball away, still the fans are on the players backs, but both teams are dismally at it, the Romanians lose possession on the edge of their area, Cerny takes aim and bends in a beauty to spark another roar.
2-0 and the fans are starting to be alas won over, still a few voices of negativity but Rangers do improve, they find that confidence from their goals and with it their performance grows.
At half time I say to my new Celtic mate "this place could turn nasty if Rangers don't get results" but luckily for Clement and co. FCSB are far from at it, you can tell their attention is elsewhere, they haven't been great, the perfect opposition side-tracked by their domestic programme, I'm surprised because with three points from two games in the Europa League already, this for them, was also a winnable tie.
FCSB make three changes at the break, Rangers make one, and it's Diomande who comes on for Lawrence, who sends Cerny through on goal, the bald headed winger runs into the penalty box unopposed before slotting home coolly left footed under the keeper. "Too easy" I say aloud, as defender and captain, Dawa, just let's the Czech winger have a free reign without an ounce of pressure to put off his strides.
More changes see young Hamzah Igamane amongst them enter the field, Connor Barron nicks the ball in midfield for the Moroccan to get on the score sheet next. FCSB look bemused but a lot of this defeat is their own doing.
By the end, the atmosphere inside the stadium is understandably positive and it feels a much happier place, why wouldn't it, but as the players walk off to milk warm applause, you can't help feel, they'll be stiffer tests to come.
The Stars
Reminding me of a heyday Antoine Sibierski (who was a very good player you may recall), Vaclav Cerny has a bit of swagger, a lot of coolness and is calm with some real quality, you could tell he was on it from the off, when others weren't, and he lead by example, assisting the first, scoring the second, and third to help put the game to bed.
The longer the game went on the more I liked the Rangers make-up, Butland may not be great with his feet to the crowds anxiousness but is solid, not spectacular, Tavernier, Balogun, Souttar, reliable in defence, whilst Brazilian left back Jefte is only twenty and given time, could turn into a very good player.
The midfield is young, Connor Barron, 22 signed this summer from Aberdeen, Nicolas Raskin, 23 signed in 2022 from Standard Liege, both small, both snappy, both have time to improve their games. Tom Lawrence offers that danger from distance, his replacement, Mohammed Diomande, again just 22, looked very competent when he came on, youngsters Lovelace (just 17), Igamane, Kasanwirjo likewise, the future is actually bright, you'll get up and down performances with such young teams, but keep hold of the basis and they can only grow into a better more rounded team.
For FCSB their better players actually came off the bench, number ten Octavian Popescu, bleach blonde hair, only 21 years old, a lively threat who took all set plays, the future, perhaps? Of Romanian football? Alexandru Baluta, a Romanian International midfielder now in his thirties, snapping away offering that tigerish protection their first half efforts needed. Daniel Birligea looked a threat as a number nine but didn't really get the service.
The Verdict
Rangers will have tastier ties to come, their Europa League knock out qualification hopes may have had a boost but it's in the league where they and their Head Coach Philippe Clement will be judged.
That can be said for FCSB who are also way off the pace domestically, they threw a good opportunity away to gain nine points from three games in the Europa League but at what consequence? If they win at the weekend, I suppose all on Thursday will be forgotten.
The Teams
Rangers: Jack Butland, James Tavernier, John Souttar, Connor Barron, Cyriel Dessers (Hamza Igamane 57), Tom Lawrence (Mohamed Diomande 46), Nedim Bajrami (Zakariya Lovelace 74), Vaclav Cerny (Neraysho Kasanwirjo 74), Jefte, Leon Balogun (Robin Propper 68), Nicolas Raskin.
FCSB: Stefan Tarnovanu, Joyskim Dawa, Daniel Birligea, David Miculsescu (William Baetan 63), Marius Stefanescu (Alexandra Baluta 46), Mihai Popescu, Malcom Edjouma (Alexandru Musi 60), Alexandra Pantea (Risto Radunovic 46), Siyabonga Ngezana, Baba Alhassan, Luis Phelipe (Octavian Popescu 46).
8:00pm Kick Off. Thursday 24th October 2024, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (att 41,191).
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