Gers overcome Grazer

Rangers leapfrogged Grazer AK in Group F of the Uefa Cup with a 3-0 victory at Ibrox.

Nacho Novo's far post finish put the hosts ahead on 58 minutes and a goalmouth scramble four minutes from time enabled substitute Shota Arveladze to score before Hamed Namouchi netted in injury time.

The hosts seemed tense during the early stages of the contest but a rasping 30-yard drive from Bob Malcolm brought Ibrox to its feet as Grazer keeper Andreas Schranz could only parry the swerving shot.

Rangers suffered a blow when Gregory Vignal had to be replaced by Michael Ball, while they had to settle for shooting from distance as Schranz comfortably saved Marvin Andrews' effort.

Grazer created their best chance of the first half on 36 minutes when Mario Bazina rolled the ball into the path of the unmarked Joachim Standfest but Stefan Klos darted off his line to block the attempt.

The rebound was volleyed into an unguarded net by Roland Kollmann but he had used his hand to control the ball.

Dado Prso then played in Peter Lovenkrands, whose control let him down as he blazed wildly wide, while Bazina struck a crisp volley which dipped just over Klos' bar.

After the break, Grazer were lucky not to be reduced to ten men as Namouchi was brought down on the edge of the area by Gernot Plassnegger but the defender escaped with a yellow card.

Pressure from the home side reaped dividends in the 58th minute as Fernando Ricksen's free kick eluded the visiting defence and Novo made a fine run to meet the cross at the far post and apply a simple finish.

Grazer pressed for a leveller as the impressive Bazina cut in from the flank to find space for a shot which was straight at Klos.

But with four minutes remaining, The Gers wrapped up the win after another dangerous ball in from Ricksen. Prso headed back into the six-yard box, Namouchi's attempt was cleared off the line and Arveladze managed to bundle the ball over the line.

Deep into injury time, Rangers put a gloss on the scoreline as Novo rolled the ball across the face of goal for Namouchi to tap in at the far post.

Alex McLeish's side have now won both matches in the group, like AZ Alkmaar, and look primed for a place in the knockout phase.