Rangers 3-1 Rapid Vienna: Alfredo Morelos fires Gers top of Europa League Group G

Alfredo Morelos scored twice and set up a third as Rangers deservedly beat Rapid Vienna 3-1 at Ibrox to extend Steven Gerrard's unbeaten run in Europe as manager.

Valon Berisha put Rapid Vienna in front shortly before half-time - despite a clear offside call being missed in the build-up - but Morelos quickly levelled for Rangers less than a minute later.

Rangers piled on the pressure in the second half, but had to wait until the 83rd minute for the lead, as James Tavernier scored a penalty after Morelos had been fouled by Marlo Sonnleitner. Morelos then added a third in stoppage time, as Rangers moved top of Group G on 4 points after two matches, following their draw with Villarreal in Spain two weeks ago.

They also equalled their own Scottish record of 10 matches unbeaten at the start of a European campaign, as they overcame a team that had beaten Spartak Moscow a fortnight ago, but then sacked their manager Goran Djuricin last week.

New boss Dietmar Kuhbauer's team started confidently, winning two early corners, but Rangers had much of the early possession, backed by a raucous home support. Yet it was Rapid who nearly scored after 20 minutes; Andrija Pavlovic beat Connor Goldson to a cross from the left, but flashed his header just wide of the far post.

Rapid were temporarily reduced to 10 men after defender Mateo Barac clashed heads with Alfredo Morelos. A bloodstained Barac disappeared up the tunnel and did not return, but several minutes passed before Christopher Dibon eventually replaced him.

Rangers were beginning to pin their opponents back to the edge of their own penalty box, but for all their endeavours they lacked creativity, with Morelos feeding off scraps. Neither team looked like making a breakthrough as the clock ticked past 40 minutes, but the game then burst into life.

Rapid winger Andrei Ivan - who on replay looked clearly offside - crossed from the right towards the penalty spot, and Lassana Coulibaly's attempted clearance only diverted the ball into the path of Berisha. The Norwegian striker swept the ball past the helpless Alan McGregor, who was then booked for his vociferous protests at the officiating.

Rangers' response was instant, with Morelos in classic poaching mode, as he latched onto James Tavernier's perfect cross from the right to slot the ball into the Rapid net for his ninth goal of the season.

The goals appeared to inject both sides with belief, and the second half started at a far more frantic pace than the first, with Rapid looking especially threatening on the counter-attack. Tavernier had two opportunities to test Strebinger from free-kicks, but the Rangers captain was unable to deliver a quality ball on each occasion.

Ryan Kent was now beginning to cause Rapid problems. After forcing Ivan to crudely foul him and be booked, the winger forced Strebinger into a save at his near post, before drawing another yellow card from Mert Muldur, as Rangers began to turn on the pressure.

Strebinger came to his team's rescue on 67 minutes, as he made a tremendous low save from Ove Ejaria's diving header. As Rapid began tire and sit deep, Rangers' energy levels seemed to grow, and Gerrard held off making changes, as he waited for his team to capitalise on the momentum they had built.

It came after 83 minutes, as Morelos was flatted in the penalty box by Sonnleitner as he tried to manoeuver into position to shoot. Tavernier took the kick and fired it high to the left of Strebinger, and Ibrox exploded with joy.

In stoppage time as Rapid threw men up the pitch, Rangers broke with Candeias, who back-heeled it into the path of Morelos, and he slid the ball under Strebinger to add gloss to the scoreline. With a double-header against bottom side Spartak Moscow to come, progression to the knockout stages is now a real possibility for Rangers.

Opta stats

Rangers have won five of their six competitive European ties against Austrian opposition (L1), conceding just three times.

SK Rapid Wien have only won three of their 20 away Europa League games (D3 L14) and are winless in their last six in the competition on their travels (D1 L5).

Including qualifiers, Rangers are yet to lose a European game under manager Steven Gerrard (P10 W5 D5 L0), winning three of their four qualifying games for the 2018-19 Europa League at Ibrox (D1).

There were just 106 seconds between Veton Berisha's opener for SK Rapid Wien and Alfredo Morelos' equaliser for Rangers.

James Tavernier is the first Rangers player to both score and assist in a single European game (excl. qualifiers) since DaMarcus Beasley and Daniel Cousin both netted and provided an assist against Lyon in the Champions League in October 2007.

Man of the Match - Alfredo Morelos

Morelos put in a fine display leading the Rangers attack. He was a constant problem for Rapid Vienna's centre-backs on numerous occasions and was instrumental in many of Rangers' attacking moves.

His instant response to Vienna's opener gave Rangers plenty of confidence on the stroke of half-time which altered the tone of the game.

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