FOOTBALL: TURKEYS; FENERBAHCE 2 RANGERS 1 (Agg: 2-1).Byline: KEITH JACKSON For the former professional American football player, see Keith Jackson (football player).Keith Jackson (born October 18, 1928, in Roopville, Georgia) is a former American sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports television, his coverage of college football RANGERS were last night blown out of the Champions League before it has even begun but Dick Advocaat Richard Advocaat (born September 27, 1947 in The Hague, Netherlands) is the Dutch coach of the Russian pro soccer team Zenit. He has served as coach of his native Dutch national football team and more recently as the chief of South Korea national football team, earning the team's still showered praise on his players. The Ibrox side crashed 2-1 to Fenerbahce in Istanbul to leave them eliminated from Europe's premier event and palmed off into tomorrow's UEFA UEFA Union of European Football Associations UEFA n abbr (= Union of European Football Associations) → U.E.F.A. Cup draw instead. Rangers came agonisingly close to grabbing a 2-2 draw in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium - yet afterwards the Ibrox boss insisted this pounds 12million defeat will not see his club plunge into crisis. However, his own position must now come under serious scrutiny with only 10 months left on his contract, an empty trophy cabinet and bitter rivals Celtic living it up with the big boys in the group phase. Advocaat advocaat Noun a liqueur with a raw egg base [Dutch] said: "We put Fenerbahce under enormous pressure tonight and I'm very proud of all my players. "The team worked so hard to get a result and they pushed Fenerbahce back so far they could not get out of defence. "We played a very strong game but just couldn't get the goal we needed to go through." Rangers got off to the worst possible start, going 1-0 down in four minutes when Israeli international Haim Revivo Haim Michael Revivo (Hebrew: חיים רביבו; born February 22, 1972 in Ashdod) is a retired Israeli football player. smashed home a 25-yard free-kick and it looked all over in 70 minutes when substitute Serhat made it 2-0. But Rangers fought to the death after Fernando Ricksen's 73rd-minute strike threw them a lifeline. It wasn't to be though - and it was a defeat too far for sickened defender Scott Wilson Scott Wilson may refer to: A person's name:
Wilson said: "It's a huge disappointment and I wish I could take you into that dressing room right now and you could see for yourself how everyone feels. "But I can't say it's the worst atmosphere I've ever known after a game because we've been in this position far too often before. "Rangers have developed a habit of being squeezed out of the Champions League and that's just not good enough. "It's wrong that a club as big as this is not in the Champions League. "Don't ask me what it means to the club, ask David Murray David Murray may refer to:
"Ask them how they feel when they are watching Man United playing some big club or other and we are not there." Rangers are now gearing up for a runners-up prize - a place in the UEFA Cup first round draw. But Wilson, who has had to put a move to Hamburg on hold throughout the club's recent injury crisis said: "I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I'll be here for the UEFA Cup. "Right now I'm playing it game by game and although I want to be part of it, things change in football. Right now I'm just so disappointed we haven't made it through. "We went for it in the second half. We had to - the Champions League was at stake. "But it's another year without the Champions League at Ibrox and that's a huge let-down for us all." Advocaat, however, refused to put the boot into his team after they battled in vain to stay in the competition. And he remained upbeat about his side's chances of reclaiming lost pride in the UEFA Cup. He said: "This performance shows we can do something in the UEFA Cup. "At 2-1 we had two or three opportunities to make it 2-2 and Bert Konterman Bert Konterman (born January 14, 1971, in Rouveen) is a former professional footballer from the Netherlands. Konterman's career began with the local amateur club SC Rouveen had a shot deflected off the line - you just need a little bit of luck in these kind of games. "Football-wise we were excellent against a team of the quality of Fenerbahce but we just have to accept the result. "We gave away two cheap goals and that was disappointing, especially the first free-kick. "I said before the game not to give away free-kicks around the box - that's how we lost the goal. "But we didn't give up and I thought Stephen Hughes Stephen Hughes is the name of:
He previously played for Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall. He plays at right-back and has been capped by Scotland. were excellent. "One of them is only 18 and the other 19 and it says a lot about them that they can play so well in this kind of atmosphere. "We also have to take into consideration it's one-and-a-half years since Fenerbahce have been beaten at home. "We played so well, they tried to play on the counter attack and even their second goal was a little lucky. I think that says everything about the commitment of our team." Advocaat, though, was not so pleased with Italian referee Pierluigi Collina Pierluigi Collina (born 13 February 1960) is an Italian former football referee, who was widely regarded as one of the world's best officials. He is still involved in football as non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association (AIA), and is a member of the UEFA , who waved away a strong penalty claim in the 83rd minute when Claudio Caniggia Claudio Paul Caniggia (born January 9, 1967 in Buenos Aires) is a former Argentine football forward, who played for the Argentine national team in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. was felled by Fenerbahce's Mustafa Dogan. When asked if he thought a spot-kick should have been awarded, Advocaat said: "No, not with that referee." Advocaat also believed Collina should have sent off substitute Kennet Andersson Bernt Kennet Andersson (born October 6, 1967 in Eskilstuna) is a former Swedish football (soccer) player, a key member of the Swedish national team that finished third in the 1994 World Cup. He is 193 cm (6'3) and 92kg (200lbs). as the game reached a frantic climax. But he said: "There's no point in talking about it, the game is over now. "But we always knew this tie would be difficult. They were one of three teams we didn't want to draw and although it's disappointing not to be in the Champions League, these things can happen when the draw is unkind." Fenerbahce boss Mustafa Denizli admitted afterwards he was relieved to get through a compelling tussle and claimed his side will not be as severely tested in the group stages. He said: "We always said we could qualify but we were nervous tonight and we tried to protect the score. "Rangers played well and we lost control in midfield but I don't think we'll play such a hard game in the Champions League." |
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