LAST UPDATE | 14 Sep 2022
RANGERS DEFIED UEFA by playing “God save the King” before being undone by a red card to James Sands in a 3-0 defeat to Napoli at Ibrox on Wednesday.
The Scottish club ignored a decision by European football’s governing body to reject their request to use the national anthem ahead of kick-off as the late Queen Elizabeth II was honoured by a giant fans’ display.
However, Rangers’ return to the Champions League after a 12-year absence is quickly turning into a nightmare on the field as a week on from losing their opening group game 4-0 to Ajax, Napoli ran riot against 10 men in the second half.
The game turned 10 minutes into the second period when USA international Sands was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Giovanni Simeone inside the area.
Remarkably, Rangers’ 40-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor saved two Piotr Zielinski penalties after a retake was ordered for encroachment when Matteo Politano swept home the rebound from the first spot-kick.
Politano himself took charge and made no mistake when Napoli were awarded a third penalty 22 minutes from time for handball by Borna Barisic.
As Rangers then pushed for a route back into the game, the impressive Italians opened them up to back up their 4-1 win over Liverpool last week.
A slick team move teed up Giacomo Raspadori to slot into the far corner before Tanguy Ndombele pounced on an error by Glen Kamara to round off the scoring.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured this evening at Ibrox with a minute’s silence, a display created by the Union Bears, and a rendition of the Nation Anthem.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) September 14, 2022
If you are attending tonight’s match, we encourage all supporters to be in their seat for 19:50.
Ogbene and obafemi should our front two going forward. Their pace alone would concern most defences. Their finishing is on par or better than parrott. Parrott very wasteful and over admired by Kenny.
Kenny out !!
@Gary O’Rourke: do expand on that please. You haven’t a clue pal
I was a Kenny supporter up to now but after his inexplicable decision to leave Parrott on the pitch and take Obafemi off I’ve changed my mind.
@Joe Healy: over one sub… Ya thats the reason to sack him. Another keyboard warriors fook me they are everywhere tonight. Great display game plan, control, an actual plan to beat the high press. We didn’t convert our chances simple as, Maybe you didn’t see THAT Joe too busy with the boys on the pub.
@Joe Healy: Maybe there was a reason we’re not aware of. Obafemi is not playing at the minute and perhaps had a knock or was out on his feet.
Game wasn’t just lost on the pitch. It was the sidelines too. Ogbene should have started. Inform player scoring goals. Parrot was too wasteful. No goals in the league for Preston.. frustrating display from Ireland.
Can any Kenny Out believer please explain? You’d swear he was underachieving with this group of players the way they go on and we have defined right to get a result last night. Scotland are a better team with players at a higher level than us. We were always underdogs last night. It’s the worst crop of players I’ve ever seen, but it is the most enjoyable I’ve seen an Ireland team play since Mick McCarthy 20 years ago. Yes the result was frustrating last night because we deserved something, but by god you couldn’t fault that performance against a superior side to us. So to the Kenny doubters, no other manager would get any more out of this team and leave him in the job.