Skip to playerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
The Scotsman
  • 13/08/2024
Mark Atkinson reports from Hampden.
Transcript
00:00A hugely disappointing night for Rangers here at Hampden Park. Their Champions League aspirations
00:06are over this season after losing 2-0 to Dynamo Kiev in the third qualifying round. Although
00:13this defeat comes with a dollop of controversy. Rangers reduced to 10 men at the start of
00:18the second half when Jefti was dismissed for two bookings. The first one was fair but the
00:23second one, an aerial challenge that always had the caribou, did not look like a foul
00:28and left a load of booking. It left Rangers to play the last 40 minutes with 10 men with
00:32time poised at one apiece. Neither team was in control at that point but Kiev made their
00:37numerical advantage pay. Towards the end scoring two goals, 82 minutes, 83 minutes, to demote
00:44Rangers into the Europa League. Once again a tournament they know very well. Manager
00:48Philippe Clement incandescent at the end, raging with the call from the Italian referee
00:53Marco Guida. I think everybody inside the stadium could tell that it wasn't a red card
00:57and those watching on television, including the pundits, were quick to give their thoughts.
01:03Rangers can't really point to that as a sole excuse. They lacked quality in the final third
01:07to break down a stubborn but limited Dynamo Kiev team. The Europa League is probably where
01:12they belong, especially as Philippe Clement tries to rebuild his team. It does mean they
01:17miss out on a £4m playoff payment and of course the riches of Celtic will get at the
01:22Champions League proper league face when that starts in September. A sore night for Rangers
01:27at their temporary home, the National Stadium, where it finished. Rangers 0-0 Kiev 2.