Rangers remain unbeaten and are yet to concede a goal this season - they will play Eredivisie side Willem II in the Europa League third qualifying round next Thursday
Thursday 17 September 2020 22:26, UK
Alfredo Morelos netted twice as Rangers eased into the Europa League third qualifying round after a 5-0 thrashing of Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar.
The Colombia international had started the game on the bench after being stretchered off with a knee injury against Dundee United on Saturday, but Morelos showed no ill-effects when he came on at half-time, tapping home his first (67) before chipping the goalkeeper late on after a break with Jermain Defoe (88).
Rangers had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a fine James Tavernier free-kick (21) before Connor Goldson nodded home (45+4) with the last action of the half. Defoe then sandwiched Morelos' double with the Gers' fourth in the 84th minute.
Lincoln Red Imps' best chance came at 2-0 when Roy Chipolina poked an effort straight at Allan McGregor after a bizarre duck from George Edmundson, but the hosts were unable to produce the same performance that saw them famously beat Celtic 1-0 in Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge four years ago.
Both sides had some half chances in the opening exchanges. Lee Casciaro - who scored the winning goal against Celtic in 2016 - nodded well over the crossbar before Kyle Goldwin punched away a Borna Barisic free-kick which floated over Cedric Itten's head. The Red Imps goalkeeper found himself downed in the middle of a melee soon after as Kemar Roofe could only guide the ball past the post in a packed area.
Rangers took the lead in the 21st minute with a sensational free-kick from Tavernier. It was a mix of power and precision from the Gers captain as he hammered a curling shot into the top corner with Goldwin having no chance of keeping it out.
The game settled after the goal but Rangers were always hunting for another and doubled their lead just before the break. Barisic delivered another wonderful free-kick as Goldson peeled away from his marker to power a header home and end the half in the best possible way.
Rangers began the second half as they ended the first with sights of goal. Ten minutes after the restart, Itten almost capitalised on a sloppy Goldwin save, but the goalkeeper pounced onto the loose ball, before the Red Imps goalkeeper stuck out a hand to see an inviting Greg Stewart cross away from Morelos' path.
Red Imps could have made the tie interesting when they had their best chance just after the hour mark. Diego Gamiz delivered a free-kick and, very strangely, Edmundson ducked to allow the ball to rush over his head and into open space. Chipolina was lurking and poked the ball goalwards, but McGregor was waiting to save before Rangers scrambled the ball clear.
The visitors then began to pull away and show the gulf in class between the two sides. Morelos netted his first goal of the game - and Rangers' third - after a neat set-piece routine. Barisic played another fine free-kick into the area, with his deep delivery nodded back across goal by Stewart. It landed at the feet of Morelos who swept home from close range.
Defoe added his name to the scoresheet in the 84th minute on his first appearance of the season. He collected a cutback at the top of the area and was allowed plenty of time to find some space with a low shot that took a deflection on the way through before beating Goldwin.
Rangers rounded off the victory not long after as Morelos nabbed his second of the game. It was great link-up play between the Colombian and Defoe as the latter burst down the field before squaring for his team-mate. Goldwin came out of his six yard box, expecting Morelos to drive into the area, but the striker chipped the ball over the oncoming goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Steven Gerrard's side remain unbeaten this season, winning seven of their eight games in all competitions, and are yet to concede a goal in the 2020/21 campaign.
He may have only played for a half but Morelos demonstrated how vital he still is for Rangers. He seemed to shake off a knee injury suffered against Dundee United a few days ago with ease and popped up with two classy finishes.
With Kemar Roofe also going off injured at the Victoria Stadium, Morelos may have just secured his place in Sunday's vital Scottish Premiership match with Hibernian.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said: "It was professional, job done and that was the plan coming here. We wanted to get a win, a clean sheet and move on to the next fixture because the next couple of weeks are going to be a lot more important and a lot more difficult.
"Tonight was about getting through. We scored five good goals, kept a clean sheet even though we really didn't get out of first gear.
"I don't think it was a good performance. We made it complicated for the majority of it. But we will take a lot of positives in terms of getting people minutes. Jermain Defoe gets a goal, Buff (Morelos) gets a couple.
"I thought the goals were outstanding and it was nice to have the luxury to give people the opportunities to play.
"We'll take the positives and move on but as for the all-round performance, we didn't get out of first gear."
Rangers are currently top of the Scottish Premiership and will be back in league action on Sunday when they travel to third-placed Hibernian, live on Sky Sports. They will then face Dutch side Willem II in the Europa League third qualifying round next Thursday.
