MX23RW : Friday, April 26 00:06:44| >> :600:127439:127439:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,307
Porto
Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 24, 2019 at 5.55pm UK
 
Rangers logo

1-1

Diaz (36')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Morelos (44')

Steven Gerrard hails "outstanding" Rangers display in Porto

Steven Gerrard hails
© Reuters
Alfredo Morelos scored his 10th Europa League goal of the season to earn a point for Rangers.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard admitted he wanted to bottle their performance in Porto and ensure they keep serving it up after his side fought back to claim a thoroughly-deserved Europa League point.

Alfredo Morelos scored a minute before the break after a brilliant low cross from Borna Barisic as Rangers responded swiftly following a long-range opener from Luis Diaz, the Gers goalscorer's Colombia team-mate.

Morelos forced a stunning save from another excellent Barisic delivery just after the break and Rangers dominated possession for long spells in the second half, showing real confidence on the ball.

The 1-1 draw leaves Rangers tied with Porto on four points, two behind group leaders Young Boys, with two of their final three games at Ibrox.

"I'm very proud of the players," Gerrard said. "The performance was outstanding. We at least deserved to take a point.

"I thought our structure and organisation was brilliant, so I need to pay respect to all my staff who have worked so hard to do that this week. But even more so to the players because they have gone out, they have all maxed out, in and out of possession, and carried out the game plan really well.

"That's the level we need to try and bottle, certainly if we want to get out of this group. That performance gets us something in Feyenoord if we can match that, and the home games will be very important.

"I think that was our best performance in Europe for large parts. If we can find that consistently we'll push this group right to the wire.

"Maybe if Alfredo scored the header and we won 2-1 then for sure it would be the best but I don't want to be sitting here as Rangers manager saying it's our best performance when we have only taken a point. Because we have to remember we are Rangers and we came here to try and win the game."

Gerrard sprung some surprises in his team selection with Filip Helander and Brandon Barker among those coming in but both vindicated their selection. The Swedish defender was arguably man of the match despite the contribution from Barisic and Morelos, who scored his 10th Europa League goal of the season.

"It was a fantastic cross and Buff's composure and finish was world class," Gerrard said.

"I could mention all my players, I thought Filip Helander arrived tonight. He showed the reason why we have so much faith in him and paid the money we did for him.

"It was a performance full of composure and experience, where to be positionally, how to follow runners, how to be switched on, how to manage a game.

"Across the board some really, really strong performances."

Porto manager Sergio Conceicao claimed his side had enough chances, although they only really threatened once in the second half when Allan McGregor pulled off an excellent double save.

Speaking through a translator, Conceicao said: "We had enough situations to win the game, not in a fantastic performance, but we knew that against these teams the quality of the game is lost a lot and the fighting comes up."

ID:376132: cacheID:376132:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5090:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson pictured in April 2018
Read Next:
Stephen Robinson: 'Trips like Rangers are why I'm in football'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
11.30am
Altmaier
Fils
11.30am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
11.30am
Alexandrova
Krueger
11.30am
Bucsa
Kasatkina
11.30am
Dolehide
Kalinina
11.30am
Jimenez Kasintseva
Paolini
11.30am
Linette
Sabalenka
1pm
Baez
Van Assche
1pm
Hurkacz
Draper
1pm
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
1pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
1pm
Kostyuk
Sherif
2pm
Zheng
Putintseva
2.30pm
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
2.30pm
Darderi
Fritz
2.30pm
Boulter
Montgomery
3pm
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
3.30pm
Vondrousova
Rogers
4pm
Griekspoor
Daniel
4pm
Munar
Struff
5pm
Navone
Rune
7pm
Coric
Zverev
8.30pm
Collins
Danilovic
11.30am
Shang
Davidovich Fokina
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!