{"id":297135,"date":"2023-11-09T23:28:36","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T23:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=297135"},"modified":"2023-11-09T23:28:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T23:28:36","slug":"rangers-2-1-sparta-prague-todd-cantwell-nets-in-crucial-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/rangers-2-1-sparta-prague-todd-cantwell-nets-in-crucial-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers 2-1 Sparta Prague: Todd Cantwell nets in crucial win"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Rangers 2-1 Sparta Prague: Todd Cantwell nets his first goal of the season as Philippe Clement&#8217;s side hold off late fightback to boost their chances of making the Europa League knockout stages<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Danilo opened the scoring for the hosts as they made a fast start at Ibrox\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Todd Cantwell doubled Rangers&#8217; lead before the visitors threatened a comeback<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>What&#8217;s Brendan Rodgers doing in the Scottish wilderness? It&#8217;s All Coming Up<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Philippe Clement&#8217;s first Europa League night at Ibrox delivered a significant step towards the knockout rounds as Sparta Prague succumbed to a dominant first-half display.<\/p>\n<p>Expert finishes from Danilo and Todd Cantwell crowned an outstanding opening period from Rangers, who attained almost total control of their Czech visitors.<\/p>\n<p>That lessened somewhat after the break, with a 77th minute strike from Sparta substitute Lukas Haraslin setting up a tense finale in which another Danilo goal was chalked off by VAR.<\/p>\n<p>Ibrox goalkeeper Jack Butland then denied Haraslin with a fine save to ensure Clement\u2019s side secured three points they richly merited on the overall balance of play.<\/p>\n<p>A fifth win from six games under the Belgian continued his early momentum and means Rangers can now seal a top-two finish in Group C with victory over Aris Limassol in Glasgow later this month. That would leave December\u2019s testing trip to Real Betis as relevant only in terms of who won the section.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/20\/77624191-12731567-image-a-16_1699563460353.jpg\" height=\"443\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Todd Cantwell celebrates doubling Rangers&#8217; lead in the first half at Ibrox on Thursday night<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77624491-12731567-image-a-33_1699568108008.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>His precise finish with his left foot marked his first goal of the season for Rangers<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77624471-12731567-image-a-34_1699568137212.jpg\" height=\"444\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Cantwell&#8217;s strike came just nine minutes after Danilo had given Rangers the lead<\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on Wednesday, Clement had brushed off suggestions he was ahead of schedule in his work and declared an ambition to turn his squad into a winning \u2018machine\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>All the components certainly functioned in a well-oiled manner during an opening period that could have easily seen more than a two-goal lead.<\/p>\n<p>While that power wasn\u2019t quite maintained throughout, this vital victory offered further evidence of the high-pressing brand of football he is starting to implement. Landing another Premiership three points against Livingston on Sunday would complete a positive phase one for Clement as he then heads into the international break.<\/p>\n<h3>MATCH FACTS<\/h3>\n<p>Rangers (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Lundstram, Jack; Cantwell (McCausland 69), Lammers (Cifuentes 90), Sima (Lawrence 85); Danilo (Dessers 85)<\/p>\n<p>Goals: Danilo, Cantwell<\/p>\n<p>Booked: Barisic, Tavernier, Lammers, Goldson<\/p>\n<p>Manager: Philippe Clement<\/p>\n<p>Sparta Prague (3-4-2-1): Jensen; Vitik, Sorensen, Gomez (Wiesner 46); Preciado, Sadilek (Haraslin 59), Kairinen, Zeleny; Kuchta (Sejk 67), Birmancevic; Olatunji (Laci 46) (Vydra 86)<\/p>\n<p>Goal: Haraslin<\/p>\n<p>Booked: Gomez, Vitik, Laci, Preciado<\/p>\n<p>Manager: Brian Priske<\/p>\n<p>Sparta had pinned back Rangers during the first half in the Czech capital a fortnight ago. Here, it was a case of role reversal &#8211; with one crucial difference. Clement\u2019s men made their pressure count. This had a strong claim to be their best 45 minutes of the Ibrox club\u2019s season so far.<\/p>\n<p>Warning was served early. A lofted pass from James Tavernier was headed down by Danilo to allow Sam Lammers to roll in Cantwell as he drifted off the right.<\/p>\n<p>The Englishman fired over a cross-shot that just eluded his Brazilian team-mate on the slide. Their combinations would soon pay off. First, however, came a gift from the visitors as Ibrox delighted in an opener with just 12 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n<p>Danilo\u2019s anticipation was key. Sensing the uncertainty of Sparta defender James Gomez as he took a ball from goalkeeper Peter Vindahl just outside the area, the striker hunted hard to get a foot on his prey\u2019s dismal attempt at a back-pass.<\/p>\n<p>It took him through on goal. Composure was still required &#8211; and Danilo delivered by sliding a lovely low finish into the far corner of the net.<\/p>\n<p>The ex-Feyenoord forward celebrated by sticking the ball up his shirt, while Gomez collapsed to the ground as if suddenly injured. Wounded pride was the most likely diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Rangers maintained the tempo. Cantwell forced a save from Lindahl by stretching into a strike before the advantage was doubled in style on 20 minutes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77627943-12731567-image-a-35_1699568682981.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Abdallah Sima (right) was a threat throughout and set up the opening goal for Danilo (left)<\/p>\n<p>It began with a raking long pass from John Lundstram towards Abdallah Sima. The new Premiership Player of the Month did enough to knock down towards Danilo, who took a second to assess before sweeping a nicely weighted cross-field pass to Cantwell.<\/p>\n<p>Dancing infield, the former Norwich midfielder eluded the hopeless Gomez to shift onto his left foot and curl home a perfect shot.<\/p>\n<p>As Ibrox erupted, Vindahl strode out of his penalty area and gathered his team-mates in an impromptu huddle. You didn\u2019t need to be an expert lip reader to ascertain the message. Can we please get a grip.<\/p>\n<p>As it was, Sparta made it to the break without conceding again. But only just.<\/p>\n<p>A sweet ball down the left from Borna Barisic sent Sima scampering forward. Visiting skipper Asger Sorensen miscued his attempt to clear the cross, succeeding only in setting up Danilo at the fringe of the area. This time, the Brazilian clipped the outside of Vindahl\u2019s right-hand post.<\/p>\n<p>While Tavernier later whipped a free-kick just wide, Sparta\u2019s threat was almost non-existent as Rangers consistently pressed them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77626477-12731567-image-a-36_1699568729113.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Sparta Prague pulled a goal back through Lukas Haraslin to set up a nervy finish<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77628015-12731567-image-a-37_1699568786182.jpg\" height=\"477\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Jack Butland had to pull off a late save to ensure his side picked up all three points<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77628043-12731567-image-a-38_1699568820152.jpg\" height=\"395\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Butland claimed a late corner to ease the pressure on his side as Sparta hunted an equaliser<\/p>\n<p>The closest they came to causing a tremor before the break was when Gomez got his head to a long throw-in from Lukas Sadilek. Butland tipped it over the bar, even though it was likely going too high.<\/p>\n<p>With his team being squeezed into disarray, Brian Priske opted for a double change at the interval. There was zero surprise in mistake-magnet Gomez being one of those withdrawn.<\/p>\n<p>Sparta certainly sought to press higher after the restart, making the game more fractured. Rangers couldn\u2019t establish their previous level of control.<\/p>\n<p>An opportunity to have the Czech deficit did arrive just after the hour mark when Tavernier was closed down. Blocking his attempted pass forward set off a move that led to Sparta substitute Adam Karabec sending a diving header wide. It was reminder the job wasn\u2019t quite done.<\/p>\n<p>Clement then made his first alteration, sending on youngster Ross McCausland for Cantwell.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77628067-12731567-image-m-40_1699568885602.jpg\" height=\"470\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Philippe Clement&#8217;s first Europa League game at Rangers ended with a crucial win for his side<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/09\/22\/77628211-12731567-image-a-41_1699569051795.jpg\" height=\"422\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Rangers sit second in their Europa League group with two matches left to play<\/p>\n<p>McCausland made an immediate impact with an excellent through-ball Danilo couldn\u2019t quite capitalise on, while Haraslin looped an effort narrowly past at the opposite end.<\/p>\n<p>The Sparta top scorer \u2013 on as a second half sub \u2013 had his moment on 77 minutes. Rangers were left exposed by a break that led to the overlapping Angelo Preciado being played in on the right. Haraslin ruthlessly dispatched the cut-back.<\/p>\n<p>Rangers thought they had restored a two-goal lead from the restart, as Danilo bundled his way beyond the tumbling Sorensen to fire into the net. Italian referee Davide Massa initially game the goal, much to Sparta\u2019s fury, only to change his mind after VAR summoned him to the touchline monitor to view an apparent push.<\/p>\n<p>Haraslin had Sparta\u2019s chance to snatch an equaliser, but his powerful angled drive was solidly repelled by Butland to complete another forward step under Clement.<\/p>\n<h3>IT&#8217;S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p><span><span>It&#8217;s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span>It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/article-12731567\/Rangers-2-1-Sparta-Prague-Todd-Cantwell-nets-goal-season-Philippe-Clements-hold-late-fightback-boost-chances-making-Europa-League-knockout-stages.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rangers 2-1 Sparta Prague: Todd Cantwell nets his first goal of the season as Philippe Clement&#8217;s side hold off late [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - 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