Rangers romp home against 10-man Raja

DOHA:  Glasgow Rangers, yesterday ran out easy winners, beating Raja Casablanca 3-0 at Al Kass International Cup in Doha.

Raja had come into the game off the back of a narrow victory over Aspire Academy, thanks in no small part to their Qatari opponents being reduced to nine men.

This time round, it was the Moroccans’ turn to face a numerical disadvantage, although they struggled to cope against the well-drilled Scots from the outset.

After a strong start, Rangers went ahead on 15 minutes. Cole McKinnon set off on a driving run into opposition territory before laying off to Nathan Coombes, who beat his man down the left before cutting back from the byline. McKinnon pounced, turning sharply and firing a rising drive into the roof of the net.

The Rangers winger was terrorising the Casablanca backline and, on 22 minutes, he forced an ill-timed lunge from right back Yahya Laamech on the edge of the box.

Australian referee Reibelt reached straight for her pocket, showing Laamech his second yellow of the game, which was immediately – and inevitably – followed by a red.

Things soon got worse for the Moroccans, when livewire Kai Kennedy latched onto a pass from the right, jinking effortlessly past two defenders before burying the ball low to the keeper’s left.

Despite being very much the poorer side, Casablanca’s passionate fans - packed into the Aspire Zone stands - continued belting out their non-stop repertoire of terrace songs, giving all they had to inspire the boys in green.

But it was the boys in blue who were undoubtedly in the ascendancy, and they tightened their grip on the game in the second period.

Ross McCausland cut in from the left, but his low shot rolled just wide of the far post. And, with 10 minutes remaining, the pacey attacker once again broke free inside the area and should have made it three, but his weak shot from 12 yards out did not unduly trouble Zoubir.

The traffic was by now almost entirely one way, and substitute Alexander Lowry spurned another chance moments later when one-on-one with the keeper, choosing to shoot when he had the option of rounding the Moroccan stopper.

Ciaran Dixon then set off on a powerful surge down the right, unleashing a strong shot that Zoubir did brilliantly to keep out, but the Rangers midfielder was first to the rebound, cutting back for Matt Yates to apply the simplest of finishes.

Seconds later, Reibelt pointed to the spot after Dixon went to ground under a challenge from Abdellah Azrour, only for VAR to make its now customary intervention.

The referee amended her decision and awarded a free kick instead, although replays suggested there had been little or no contact. In the event, it mattered little, as the final whistle sounded seconds later.