Auxerre 2 (Jelen 30, Niculae 75) Rangers 2 (Novo 61, Boyd 83)
Attendance 10,147
The home side were first to threaten in just four
minutes when Treneusz Jeren broke through on the right
only to see Allan McGregor touch his drive over.
Nine minutes later Alan Hutton's headflick from
a Barry Ferguson free-kick was just too high as
Rangers began to settle in the difficult conditions,
then on the quarter-hour mark Novo was released by a
superb Ferguson slide-rule pass only to see his drive
blocked by home goalkeeper Fabien Cool.
Within seconds at the other end Luigi Pieroni burst
through the middle but again McGregor was equal to the
task, holding a twenty-yard drive.
Rangers suffered an injury blow in nineteen minutes
when Steven Smith limped off to be replaced by Julien
Rodriguez.
Auxerre were threatening more and more as the half
developed - McGregor producing a double save in
25 minutes, firstly to deny Jeren's chip then
recovering in time to block Pedretti's shot from
the rebound.
The opening goal was merely delayed five minutes
however - a long clearance from Younes Kaboul
(linked with Rangres) found Jelen breaking through the
middle to net with the Ibrox central defence found
wanting.
Rangers were now up right up against it - three
minutes later Kanga Akale found space on the left
before curling a shot just over, then shortly
afterwards Pieroni might have done better than head
Benoit Cheyrou's free-kick over.
Right on half-time the Light Blues almost equalised
when Charlie Adam's header from a Dado Prso
cross drifted just wide.
Auxerre were well on top in the opening stages of the
second-half, looking for a killer second goal -
and it almost arrived on the hour when Oumar
Kaladane's header from a Pedretti corner struck
the crossbar.
Within seconds however Rangers had equalised when
Nacho Novo netted from Adam's pass - the
little Spaniard's third goal in consecutive
European ties.
Five minutes later Libor Sionko made a welcome return,
substituting for Prso - but it was Romanian
substitute Daniel Niculae who made an instant impact
when he came on in 74 minutes, heading his side back
into the lead from Jelen's cross within sixty
seconds of his introduction.
Rangers tried to fight back for a second time -
within the next four minutes Boyd had a close-range
effort from Sionko's cutback blocked then
Novo's shot on the turn from another Sionko
cross was deflected wide.
The Ibrox men would not be denied however -
levelling the scores at 2-2 in 83 minutes when Boyd
netted from close range after Alan Hutton's
cross had been laid off by Ferguson.
Auxerre came surging back yet again - Youngs
Kaboul, linked with Rangers, firing over two minutes
later from Jean-Sebastien Jaures's cross.
Rangers held out for crucial draw however, the first
time in four efforts that they have avoided defeat at
the hands of Auxerre whilst extending their unbeaten
run in Europe to fully eleven games, one short of the
club record achieved between 1991-93.
Of more immediate importance however, the point
ensures progress to the last 32 of the UEFA CUP and
afterwards Manager Paul Le Guen reflected:
“I am delighted to qualify, but we must work to
improve. We showed great spirit and fought for each
other. The team is improving, as is the spirit. We can
progress to the later stages of this
competition.”
Auxerre Coach Jean Fernandez admitted:
“I was very frustrated by the result. We
dominated, but must now focus on the next match. There
are still points to be won, we must now win our next
two games. We must remain optimistic.”
AUXERRE Cool; Jaures, Kalabane, Kaboul, Sagna;
Pedretti (Niculae 75), Cheyrou, Akale, Thomas;
Pieroni, Jelen (Ba 80)
UNUSED SUBS Sauvage, Martin, Vadocz, Traore, Lejeune
RANGERS McGregor; Hutton, Hemdani, Svensson, Smith
(Rodriguez 19); Novo (Sebo 80), Ferguson, Clement,
Adam; Prso (Sionko 64), Boyd
UNUSED SUBS N'Diaye, Letizi, Buffel, Rae
REFEREE Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)