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    Rangers 1 Aris Limassol 1: Ross McCausland scores first Gers goal after replacing Cantwell but fans left frustrated

    ROSS McCAUSLAND has had worse weeks.Just days after bagging a bumper new deal, the 20-year-old climbed off the bench to net the goal that guarantees Rangers European football after Christmas.
    Credit: Willie Vass
    Todd Cantwell wasn’t happy to be hauled off in first halfCredit: Getty
    Philippe Clement made huge call to sub Cantwell so earlyCredit: Rex
    Whether they’re still in the Europa League or down in the Conference will be settled in Seville in two week’s time.
    Gers had hoped to return to the scene of the 2022 final with their passports to the last 32 already stamped.
    But for the second time in just 56 days Limassol returned to bite them in the Aris.
    Back in October, boss Aleksey Shpilevsy masterminded a famous victory in the Alphamega Stadium.

    On a freezing night at Ibrox, he watched as his side stormed into a first half lead.
    Todd Cantwell was culpable – caught in possession allowing the visitors to break.
    Following a touchline bust up with boss Philippe Clement, his match came to an abrupt end.
    McCausland was his replacement – and ultimately Rangers’ saviour.
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    On Tuesday, the Northern Ireland international put pen to paper on a new long term deal – just 48 hours later he marked it with his first ever goal for his boyhood heroes.
    Yet there is no disguising the disappointment.
    It’s a result which has thrown Group C wide open – leaving Gers potentially needing to beat Betis in Spain.
    A win for Limassol against Sparta Prague would also seal a place in the last 32.
    The worst Rangers can do is now finish third – a win in Spain would secure top spot.
    Just three days before the Viaplay Cup Final, it’s far from the ideal scenario – but one they must now deal with.
    Phase one for new boss Clement concluded with six wins and a draw – with 18 goals scored and just three conceded.
    Phase two began with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Aberdeen on Sunday.
    It was the first of 12 games in just 38 days for a Rangers side far removed from the one that faced Aris in Limassol back in October.
    Back then, Gers were a club in crisis.
    Michael Beale had been sacked, his side humiliated by Aberdeen just five days before.
    A costly 2-1 defeat in Cyprus, left them with a mountain to climb in Europe.
    But four points from six against Sparta Prague put the knock-out stages back within sight.
    Sparta’s win over Betis earlier in the evening meant Rangers would move to the top of the table with victory over Limassol.
    Clement made three changes to the side that faced Aberdeen at the weekend.
    Sam Lammers, Ben Davies and John Souttar all returned with the suspended Connor Goldson and the ineligible Leon Balogun dropping out.
    Clement had called for a fast start – but he got the exact opposite.
    Rangers were slow and sluggish in everything they did, and as a result they found themselves behind at the break.
    The warning signs were there early on.
    Mihlali Mayambela’s pace was causing Borna Barisic some problems and with 11 minutes gone, his cut back found Caju lurking on the edge of the box.
    His powerful shot was beaten away by Jack Butland.
    With Aleksandr Kokorin pulling the strings, the visitors always looked dangerous on the break.
    In midfield for Rangers, Cantwell, Jose Cifuentes and Sam Lammers were all well off the pace.
    Danilo tried to play in Abdallah Sima before Souttar was presented with a half chance from a corner.
    With 27 minutes gone, Lundstram played a neat one-two with Cantwell on the edge of the box, driving his effort inches past the post.
    Just 60 seconds later, disaster struck.
    Cantwell was caught in possession and Kokorin found himself with time and space to pick his pass.
    He did so superbly, threading the ball between Souttar and Davies to send Babicka scampering clear.
    He showed composure to round Butland before rolling the ball into an empty net.
    Aris should have added a second when the pace of Mayambela set up a glorious chance for Kokorin.
    But the former Zenit St Petersburg man was off balance just as he pulled the trigger.
    Cantwell’s match ended with just 36 minutes on the clock.
    Clement had spent ten minutes screaming instructions to the midfielder, who didn’t take it kindly.
    As a result, his number flashed up and on came McCausland.
    Boos rang round the ground with many fans calling for the removal of Lammers instead.
    But there was no doubt this was Clement laying down the law.
    And just three minutes into the second half, his hardline stance paid off.
    When McCausland picked up the ball on the edge of the box there looked little on.
    But the 20 year-old – who signed a new deal this week tying him to the Ibrox club until 2027 – shifted the ball onto his left foot, drilling a low shot in off the far post.
    It was a magical moment for the youngster as he wheeled away to celebrate his first ever Rangers goal.
    Lammers was finally put out of his misery with 58 minutes gone – Tom Lawrence his replacement.
    With 64 minutes on the clock, Lawrence picked out McCausland, who again had taken up good position on the edge of the Aris box.
    Cutting back inside just once too often, the youngster was crowded out just as he shaped to shoot.
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    Danilo forced Vana into a decent save as the Brazilian threatened with a back post header.
    Rangers fans unveil giant tifo before kick-offCredit: PA
    Babicka celebrates his first-half opener for Aris LimassolCredit: AFP
    Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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    TNT Sports viewers think they are playing FIFA 98 as they spot bizarre quirk with linesmen in Liverpool vs Linz

    FOOTBALL fans thought they were seeing double as Liverpool took on Linz in the Europa League.The Reds faced the Austrian side looking to win Group E, but viewers were focused on something else ahead of kick-off.
    Fans were initially confused when they saw the identical linesmen
    Twins Marco and Benjamin Zurcher officiated Liverpool vs LinzCredit: Getty
    As the match officials were shown on TNT Sports some viewers thought they were playing Fifa 98.
    That is because, like in the game, the two linesmen looked identical – because they are twins.
    Marco and Benjamin Zurcher are from Switzerland and fans took a shine to the pair before the match.
    One wrote: “I thought they had been lazy and used the same linesman model like FIFA 98 in this match but it’s twins.”
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    Another added: “The two linesmen being twins in the Liverpool game is so fun.”
    A third said: “Mad that the two linesmen in the Liverpool game are twins 😂😂”
    And another commented: “The assistant refs in the Liverpool match are twins 😂😂 only the Europa League could give you that.”
    The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes with goals from Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.
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    Mo Salah added a third after the break to cement Liverpool’s place at the top of the group.
    Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost just once in 11 games which came in the Europa League against Toulouse. More

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    Rangers vs Aris Limassol LIVE SCORE: Latest Europa League updates as Scottish giants could qualify for last-16 spot

    RANGERS will host Aris Limassol in a Europa League group stage clash tonight.The Scottish giants could qualify for the knockout stages with a win against the Cypriots if results elsewhere also go in their favour.

    Kick off time: 8pm GMT
    TV/ live stream: TNT Sports 3/ discovery+

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    Liverpool vs LASK LIVE SCORE: Latest Europa League updates as Reds look to increase lead at top of group – stream, TV

    LIVERPOOL host LASK in their penultimate Europa League group stage clash.The Reds go into the tie two points clear at the top of Group E, while the Austrian side are rock bottom.

    Kick off time: 8pm GMT
    TV channel/ live stream: TNT Sports 1/ discovery+

    Liverpool vs LASK betting preview: Odds and predictions
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    AEK Athens vs Brighton LIVE SCORE: Seagulls can sore into Europa League knockout spot with an away win – latest updates

    BRIGHTON can book their spot in the knockout stages of the Europa League with a win against AEK Athens – and top spot is up for grabs too.The Seagulls took a giant leap toward Europa League promise land after beating Ajax in Holland last time out.
    And not only would three points guarantee their qualification, but it would put them top of Group B heading into matchday six depending on how the other fixture concludes in Marseille.

    Kick-off time: 5:45pm GMT
    Live stream: discovery+
    TV channel: TNT Sports 2

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    Backa Topola vs West Ham LIVE SCORE: Hammers look to seal Europa League knockout spot against Serbian strugglers

    WEST HAM can seal their place in the Europa League knock-out phase with a Group A victory over Serbian strugglers Backa Topola.Lucas Paqueta’s late strike against Olympiacos fired the Hammers to the top of the group last time out.
    While Backa Topola are yet to win a single match in this season’s competition.

    Kick-off time: 5:45pm GMT
    Live stream: discovery+
    TV channel: TNT Sports 1

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    Liverpool ace Darwin Nunez angrily PIES referee and Toulouse goalscorer after being left fuming at disallowed equaliser

    LIVERPOOL star Darwin Nunez angrily pied both the referee and a Toulouse goalscorer.That’s after being left fuming at his side’s disallowed equaliser in the Europa League last night.
    Darwin Nunez pied both the ref and a Toulouse goalscorer after Liverpool’s 3-2 defeatCredit: Rex
    Nunez refused to shake hands after Liverpool had a late equaliser disallowedCredit: https://twitter.com/footballontnt

    Nunez was a sub as Liverpool suffered a 3-2 group stage defeat in France on Thursday.
    Liverpool were 2-0 down before pulling one back through an own goal with 15 minutes left.
    Toulouse made it 3-1 just moments later before Diogo Jota gave his side a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 89th minute.
    And deep into stoppage time, Jarell Quansah pulled the trigger on a fine finish to rescue a dramatic point.
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    However, the goal was eventually ruled out by VAR for a handball committed by Alexis Mac Allister earlier in the build-up.
    The controversial decision left Jurgen Klopp enraged after the final whistle.
    And he was even more angry when he had to hold his press conference in a TENT, allowing Toulouse fans to interrupt.
    But it wasn’t just the Reds boss who was upset by the disallowed strike.
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    Jarrell Quansah’s 97th minute strike was chalked off for handballCredit: Reuters
    Jurgen Klopp had to hold his press conference in a tentCredit: AFP
    Uruguay striker Nunez came off the bench in France and cut an unhappy figure at full time.
    As players from both sides shook hands with each other, Nunez had other ideas.
    He first blanked referee Georgi Kabakovafter, seemingly in protest at Liverpool’s 97th minute heartbreak.
    But Nunez also pied Toulouse goalscorer Frank Magri, who attempted to shake the Liverpool man’s hand.
    However, Nunez simply swiped his hand up in the air in a point-blank refusal.
    And fans reacted on social media to the incident, with one saying: “No outrage from the pundits here.”
    Another joked: “He even missed the handshake.”
    One noted: “Liverpool is a big club, their players should have been trained to respect their opponent and have good sportsmanship.”
    Another added: “Imagine the fume if this happened the other way round, we would never hear the end of how disgraceful it is.” More

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    Jose Mourinho rages at ‘horrible performance’ and names only player who ‘didn’t deserve defeat’ in Slavia Prague shocker

    JOSE MOURINHO let rip at Roma’s “horrible performance” in the Europa League.And he singled out his only player who walked away with any credit and didn’t deserve to lose.
    Jose Mourinho slammed his Roma flops after they lost 2-0 to Slavia PragueCredit: Getty
    Mourinho’s side faced Slavia Prague away looking to extend their lead at the top of Group G.
    However, they slipped to a painful 2-0 defeat in the Czech Republic – with the Portuguese boss watching from the stands as he served his touchline ban for insulting ref Anthony Taylor after last year’s Europa League final.
    Vaclav Jurecka and Lukas Masopust scored in the second half to take Slavia above Roma on goal difference with two games to go.
    And fiery Mourinho was in no mood to support his flops publicly – instead piling in with a brutal assessment.
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    The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss raged: “We lacked everything today. I don’t want to talk much and nor should anyone else.
    “The result was absolutely deserved, both in a positive sense for Slavia Prague and a negative sense for us.
    “I did not like anything about our performance. I already spoke to the players in the locker room, which is something I never do.
    “What we said will remain between us. I want to be honest and fair with the Slavia Prague lads, who fully deserved this win.
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    “We had the opportunity to score for 1-1, but overall it was a horrible performance.
    “Absolutely nothing worked.
    “On an individual level, there were very few players with the attitude I like to see, with what was the right attitude for a game like this.”
    Mourinho named Romelu Lukaku, Diego Llorente, Houssem Aouar and Andrea Belotti in his starting XI – with Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Renato Sanches all coming off the bench.

    But he did reserve his one positive reflection for a rising star and product of the Roma academy.
    Mourinho added: “I’ll tell you one thing I did like, Edoardo Bove.
    “He is a 21-year-old kid and one guy is not enough to win us a match.
    “All of us deserve defeat tonight except for Bove.”
    Roma face arch-rivals Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday with both sides playing catch up on the top four.
    It was a painful night for Roma in the Europa LeagueCredit: Getty
    Edoardo Bove got the credit for his display from his managerCredit: Getty More