By The GovanhIll Gub

Rangers had started the 2000/01 CL group D section in whirlwind fashion with an emphatic 5-0 over Sturm Graz at Ibrox and an excellent 1-0 win in Monaco. They then had the back-to-back encounters with Galatasaray a 3-2 defeat in Turkey followed up with a goalless draw at Ibrox meant one thing. With the head-to-heads between teams counting if teams tied on points, Rangers had to take at least a draw from the return tie in Group D, against Sturm Graz in the fancifully named Arnold Shwarzenegger Stadium.

Rangers came into this match having lost their last three away fixtures. The aforementioned CL tie in Istanbul, and subsequently losing more ground in the league with losses at Hibs and St Johnstone. With these results at the back of their minds and players having to play if not fully recovered or just back from our obligatory injuries to contend with, on the 25th, October, 2000, the following X1 took to the field; Christensen, Porrini, Konterman, Amoruso, Numan, Kanchelskis, Ferguson, Tugay, Van Bronkhurst, Wallace, de Boer.

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Christensen, the Danish goalkeeper was making his Rangers debut so this was always going to be a test of his mettle and he had a back three of Porrini, Amoruso and Konterman playing in front of him. The game had started in a sluggish fashion with no real chances being made at either end. Numan went off in a clash with an opponent and when he returned to the fray he ended up with a yellow card for his troubles. Coming back on as he did to the field without the referee’s permission. An indiscretion that would come back to haunt him later.

The game changed just on the twenty-minute mark when Graz went up the filed in a sweeping move that left their Russian striker, Yuran, with the ball at his feet in the Rangers penalty box with Barry Ferguson the despairing last man in defence, The Graz player neatly side-stepped both Barry and the goalkeeper to put the home side ahead.

Rangers, now had no option but to push for an equaliser and both Van Bronkhurst and Tugay rifled in a couple of shots to test the home keeper Schickilgruber. Then five minutes before the break Van Bronkhurst had another good effort, which had  the home shot-stopper diving at full stretch to parry away.  Half time came with the Austrian side firmly in the driving seat.

Just after half time Yuran unleashed a piledriver that flew just over the crossbar and then Van Bronkhurst forced the Austrian goalkeeper into a block save. This would be Gio’s last contribution to the match. Looking back you get the feeling he started the match having not fully recovered from the injury that had put him on the sidelines previously. He was replaced by Neil McCann to give the team some much needed pace and energy down the flanks. 

In truth though, Graz had the better of the chances and were content to play a game of cat and mouse with Rangers. Negri was introduced with Porrini going in the opposite direction as Rangers prepared for their last stand, But it was Graz again who went the closest when Kojican tried a spectacular scissors kick that went just wide of Christensen’s post.

Things then went from bad to worse for Rangers when Numan earned himself a second yellow for obstruction in the middle of the park. It looked a soft one and his opponent never made anything of the incident but when you’re already on a yellow this is the risk you run. The Ranger didn’t look too chuffed as he walked off the field. Neither where we looking on Arthur, neither were we.

Ironically enough, Chirstensen made his first save of the match in the 90th minute when he pushed away a shot from Strafner. But Graz would go one better immediately after. With another slick move down Rangers right, the ball came to Prilasnig in the penalty box and taking a neat step to his right he calmly passed he ball into the Rangers keeper’s left hand corner to make it two nil on the night and Rangers needing to win against Monaco at Ibrox on the last night of the Group D ties to qualify for the knock out stages.

As the history books will show, Rangers would subsequently draw 2-2 with Monaco at Ibrox and finish third in the group behind Graz and Galatasaray. We failed to qualify even though we had the same points as the Turks and plus six better off in GD. It’s not something I agree with but it is UEFA’s baw and they have decided in their wisdom that head-to-heads come into play if sides are equal on points.

In many ways the two ties against Sturm Graz a quarter of a century ago were a microcosm of the season as a whole for the club and they certainly showed both sides of our Jekyll and Hyde nature. In the first game we were fast flowing and free moving. In the return tie we were sluggish, still struggling to get to grip with the defensive formations and a team who  in many areas struggled with the physical side of the game.

Certainly at home, despite a 5-1 win over you-know-who at Ibrox the following month Advocaat never really got to grips with O’Neill’s all-in wrestlers one minute cum dying swans the next combo. At times it felt like Amo had to take the brunt of the twin battering rams that were Sutton and Hartson on his own but that’s an issue and debate for another day.

tgg.