Rangers 0-2 Dynamo Kyiv (1-3 agg): Jefte’s Red Card Ends Rangers’ Champions League Victory Dream
Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv Highlights: Rangers’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were shattered as they lost to Dynamo Kyiv 3-1 on aggregate.
Despite having a chance to score early on, the team faltered following Jefte’s dubious red card, which allowed Dynamo Kyiv to score two goals quickly to seal the victory. The Europa League group stage draw now features Rangers.
Rangers’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dashed by two goals in short succession from Dynamo Kyiv, following the harsh dismissal of Jefte.
Rangers had hope after Cyriel Desser’s last-gasp equalizer in the first leg, and he and Ross McCausland both had opportunities to put them ahead early in the second leg of their third qualifying round match at Hampden Park.
Jefte was already on a booking when he was given a yellow card in the 50th minute for leaping to win a header. This made things difficult for the home team.
After holding on for thirty minutes, Philippe Clement’s team gave up, and Oleksandr Pikhalyonok and Nazar Voloshyn, who were substitutes, scored two goals in a row to complete a 2-0 victory on the evening and a 3-1 aggregate victory that advanced Dynamo to the play-off round where they will take on RB Salzburg.
Clement’s team had a poor evening and will view this as a wasted chance as they move on to the less renowned and undoubtedly less lucrative Europa League group stage. Rangers started the game strongly pressing, making the visitors’ defense appear uneasy at first.
To Rangers’ relief, winger Vladyslav Kabaev ran past Rangers captain James Tavernier down the left in the ninth minute as Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s team managed to claw their way back into the game. However, no one was able to capitalize on his enticing cross.
Rangers didn’t make much progress until Jefte nodded a looping Tavernier cross past the far post in the 20th minute. A few minutes later, he thundered a snatched shot from 25 yards high over the bar.
Georgiy Bushchan of Kyiv easily stopped a Dessers header from a Jefte cross. Later, as Rangers applied pressure, the ball dropped to Tom Lawrence inside the box, but he was unable to control his feet to shoot. Kyiv were swift and determined when they attacked, which had the Rangers defense on high alert.
Shortly after the half-hour, Dessers played in McCausland as part of a Rangers counterattack, but Clement’s team was unable to capitalize on the lost ball even though Bushchan parried his attempt.
Rangers supporters had cause for optimism when Jefte was warned for a touchline foul on Andriy Yarmolenko after 30 minutes, but that was dashed when he was cautioned once again and sent off for an aerial challenge on Oleksandr Karavaiev. Cerny replaced McCausland at the beginning of the second half.
After the Rangers supporters raised their voices in defiance and the dust had cleared on what appeared to be a soft second yellow, Karavaiev sprinted past the defence but missed the mark. Before Rangers mounted a comeback, Kyiv took advantage of the additional player and moved menacingly, turning the tide of the match.
Dujon Sterling came in for the weary midfielder Mohamed Diomande in the 68th minute, while Ben Davies replaced the injured Ridvan Yilmaz, who had been carted off the field on a stretcher minutes earlier.
The Light Blues suffered yet another setback, as Dessers appeared to become enraged with the supporters after hearing their cries when he lost possession without any assistance. Although he wasn’t really under pressure, Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland did manage to stop Taras Mykhavko’s long-range attempt.
But Pikhalyonok’s long-range strike in the 82nd minute, which came without any opposition from the Rangers defense, gave him little opportunity. After making an early error, Butland saved a shot from Vladyslav Vanat at the end to rescue himself, and Voloshyn converted a cut-back from Mykola Shaparenko to seal the tie.
Philippe Clement, Manager of Rangers, On the Red-card Decision:
“I watched pictures, and it’s obvious that there are instances when there is a gray area in football. For this reason, VAR exists and serves to increase football’s integrity. However, the choice had nothing to do with the gray area. It was very evident that nothing was happening.
“Jefte leaps higher, his arm resting next to his body and not moving—it’s nothing. “I tried to ask questions and try to comprehend the verdict, but the referee kept to his call—it was a clear foul that resulted in a second yellow and a red card. I’m sure his superiors will think of something else.”
“It’s a very important moment that ultimately killed the dressing room’s dream and the dreams of over 50,000 fans. You would think that a higher caliber of decision-making would have been made.” “In more than 30 years of watching football, this is the worst decision I have ever seen.”
I have a lot on my mind, but let’s keep it within as you guys know that if I talk about it too much, I might be banned. “I need to be good and smart for the club and the team and we need to move on and take positive lessons from the two games.”
