The Ibrox men went into tonight's fixture only too aware
that failure to qualify for the group stages of the
UEFA Cup would spell disaster in both footballing and
financial terms.
Manager Paul Le Guen made three changes from Parkhead
with Phil Bardsley, Libor Sionko and Thomas Buffel
replacing Alan Hutton, Sasa Papac and Chris Burke
against a Molde side showing just the one alteration
from the first leg in Norway with Mael Baldvinsson
replacing Madiou Konate.
Kris Boyd had the ball in the net from a Buffel pass
in just four minutes only for the goal to be chalked
off for offside.
Six minutes later Molde demonstrated that they were
here to attack when Peter Rudi's curling twenty-yard
effort was held by Allan McGregor.
To immense relief, the opening goal when it arrived in
eleven minutes fell to Buffel, who ghosted in at the
near post to net from a Steven Smith cross after the
youngster had been released down the left by a reverse
pass from Dado Prso.
Buffel was making the world of a difference with his
movement and running off the ball – and he tested
visiting goalkeeper Jan Larsen ten minutes later with
a 22-yard drive that was held.
Molde were certainly dangerous, and should have
equalised in 28 minutes when Daniel Hestad's cross
presented Marel Baldvinsson with a free header only
for the Icelander to head wide.
Rangers had the bulk of the pressure – and Boyd was
inches away from adding a second in forty minutes when
he headed a Smith cross inches wide.
Sixty seconds later another home goal was chalked off
for offside when Sionko converted a Buffel pass.
The Norwegians continued to threaten however – and
McGregor came to his side's rescue in 42 minutes when
he clawed away Magne Hoseth's header from Matej
Mavric's cross.
The Light Blues desperately needed the cushion of a
second goal – and it duly arrived on the stroke of
half-time when good work by Sionko on the right
created an opening for Boyd who cleverly backheeled
the ball into the path of Barry Ferguson who
sidestepped a defender before slotting the ball home.
Rangers were now in control of the tie – yet Molde
were far from out of it, underlined immediately after
the restart when Magne Hoseth's penetrating run was
thwarted by McGregor who held his shot at the second
attempt.
Six minutes later a lack of concentration on the part
of Ferguson almost proved costly – caught in
possession, he allowed Baldvinsson to break through
only for McGregor to charge his shot down.
Dado Prso's header in 57 minutes from a Charlie Adam
free-kick was held by Larsen, and eight minutes later
the Croatian was moved up front when Boyd was replaced
by Gavin Rae.
Twice in quick succession Prso came close to adding a
third – in 71 minutes his twenty-yard shot from a
Ferguson flick was just wide, then from the same
distance, this time from an Adam pass, his effort was
turned wide by Larsen.
The save of the night arrived in 81 minutes when
Larsen touched over Adam's 25-yard piledriver.
Five minutes later Sionko's angled drive from a Buffel
flick flashed wide, then as Rangers totally dominated
the closing stages Rae's thirty-yard shot from a
Ferguson pass was held by Larsen.
The final whistle confirmed Rangers' progress, and
afterwards a relieved Paul Le Guen reflected:
“I am happy we have qualified. We played well and
displayed great movement. The whole team must work
together. The aim tonight was to qualify – it was
important in the development of the team.”
RANGERS McGregor; Bardsley, Hemdani, Rodriguez, Smith;
Sionko (N'Diaye 89), Ferguson, Adam, Prso (Sebo 80);
Buffel, Boyd (Rae 65)
UNUSED SUBS Robinson, Svensson, Hutton, Martin
MOLDE FK Larsen; Mavric, Andreasson (Gjerde 64),
Kallio, Rindaroy; Ohr (Moster 69), Rudi, Grande
(Konate 83), Hestad; Hoseth, Baldvinsson
UNUSED SUBS Lilebakk, Bakke, Mohammed, Diouf
REFEREE Knut Kircher (Germany)