The Ibrox men took the field wearing all-white, facing
opponents who had already defeated Coventry City 1-0
last Friday, and who will be playing in the Bundesliga
Second Division this coming season.
Former Rangers' Manager Dick Advocaat was present at
the game, and would have been pleased to see his
signing Ronald De Boer as captain. Once again both
Emerson Thome and David May were fielded.
The home side made the more impressive start,
Tolcseres (last season´s top scorer) breaking free in
five minutes only to shoot wide, but the opening goal
was delayed just four minutes, Willmann heading home
from close range after Maclado's 30-yard drive had
struck the underside of the bar.
Rangers might have drawn level four minutes later when
Nuno Capucho released Peter Lovenkrands only for the
Dane's drive to be deflected wide by goalkeeper
Muller´s legs.
The Light Blues' defence was less than impressive and
was again caught square on the half-hour when
Tolcseres was again clean through, and again the
Hungarian missed the target.
Hutweller was next to test the non-existent Ibrox
deefence, running right through the heart of the back
four, shrugging off a weak challenge from May, yet
shooting wide in 36 minutes.
One minute later - completely against the run of play
- Rangers somehow drew level when Christian Nerlinger
drove home a Capucho knockdown.
The scoreline was a travesty, yet Rangers took heart
fróm their good fortune and indeed might have taken
the lead before the interval - Lovenkrands shooting
wide from a De Boer pass, then a Nerlinger volley from
Capucho´s cross flashing over.
Alex McLeish made five changes at the interval,
includuing the replacement of the ineffective May and
Arteta.
It took an outstanding save from Allan McGregor to
keep Rangers level in 49 minutes when he produced a
point-blank stop from Hutweller following a one-two
with Willmann.
Steven Thonpson should have done better than fire over
the bar from a Nerlinger pass, but it was still the
home side who looked the likelier - McGregor again
having to look lively to block a Hutweller 25-yard
free-kick.
The game, played in intense heat of 32°C, looked to be
heading for a draw until Regensburg notched a deserved
winner in 86 minutes when Stiegmair volleyed home
Nsaliwa´s cross following a mazy run.
Manager Alex McLeish afterwards acknowledged:
"We expected a tough game - Regenburg are a strong
side. We came to Germany to achieve 100% fitness -
we´re not there yet."
True - but ´Éck´ must know that he has a great deal of
work ahead to be ready for the challenge of the
Champions´League.
Team:
McGregor; Ricksen (Malcolm 45), Muscat (Smith 45); May
(Moore 45), Thome, Ross: Capucho (Burke 62),
Nerlinger, Arteta (Mols 45), De Boer (Thompson 45),
Lovenkrands (Arveladze 73)