Youths Share Four Goals With Spartak

Rangers 2 Spartak Moscow 2

Rangers under 19’s drew 2-2 with their Spartak Moscow counterparts this afternoon at Forthbank, the Ibrox youngsters will be a bit disappointed with the result as they looked to be cruising at 2-0. But a goal seemed to give the Russians a lift and they grabbed a late equaliser. 

Rangers were first to threaten on nine minutes, Jack Thomson’s cross from the right hand angle of the box found Stephen Kelly arriving at the back post but he shot into the side netting. There was little goalmouth action until Rangers took the lead just after the half hour mark. A superb turn from Josh McPake on the halfway line took him clear of a defender and his pass sent Andy Dallas into the right side of the box to shoot past the keeper.

Two minutes later another brilliant turn from Josh McPake allowed him to send Andy Dallas into the right side of the penalty area but on this occasion Artem Poplevchenkov came from his line to make the block. Spartak came close to drawing level two minutes later, a free kick from the right hand angle of the box was delivered to the back post and Daniil Petrunin’s header looked destined for the net till Cammy Palmer produced a brilliant goal line clearance.

Rangers had the final chance of the half when Cammy Palmer won the ball and passed to Serge Atakayi whose pass sent Andy Dallas racing through the middle but he shot just wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Spartak Moscow 0

Rangers doubled their lead two minutes after the break when Stephen Kelly curled a free-kick from the left hand angle of the box over the defensive wall and into the top corner. Five minutes later Cammy Palmer strode forward and his effort from around twenty-five yards was just too high.

Just after the hour Spartak threatened when Dmitry Markitesov in possession on the left passed inside to Damila Proshliakov who shot narrowly over from distance. Rangers replied immediately with a Josh McPake solo run that took him into the right side of the box and his shot forced Anton Shitov to dive to his right to parry. The corner from the left was worked to Cammy Palmer on the edge of the box and his powerful shot had Anton Shitov diving high to his left to save.

Twenty minutes into the second half the Russians reduced the deficit, a quick break ended with Maksim Danilin in possession on the left side of the box passing inside for Daniil Lopatin to shoot past Aidan McAdams. Rangers were soon back on the attack with Jordan Houston breaking on the right, he passed inside to Andy Dallas who forced a save from Anton Shitov.

Rangers next chance came from a free-kick close to the left hand byline, Stephen Kelly crossed and Andy Dallas headed just wide of the near post. With the final quarter-hour appraoching Spartak had a free-kick just outside Rangers penalty area, Daniil Lopatin curled a free-kick over the wall and Aidan McAdams was forced to dive high to his left to produce a fine save.

A quick Scott Gray throw in sent And Dallas down the left, he passed inside to Dapo Mebude who moved the ball onto Josh McPake whose shot was just wide of the far post. With nine minutes remaining the sides were level a cross from the left was flicked on and Nikita Morgunov netted from close range at the back post.

Rangers created a couple of chances in the final minutes with James Maxwell twice being denied by Anton Shitov. The first came when the ball was worked from left to right to James Maxwell via Dapo Mebude and Josh McPake, the keeper saving at his near post. Then on a Cammy Palmer pass he took on a defender to break into the right side of the penalty area but again the keeper made the save.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Spartak Moscow 2

Rangers:- Aidan McAdams; Jordan Houston, Danny Finlayson, Lewis Mayo, Matthew Shiels (Scott Gray 68 mins); Jack Thomson (James Maxwell 68 mins);Cammy Palmer, Stephen Kelly; Josh McPake (Leon King 86 mins), Andy Dallas, Serge Atakayi (Dapo Mebude HT).

Not Used:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk), Harris O’Connor, Nathan Patterson.

Spartak Moscow:- Artem Poplevchenkov (Anton Shitov HT); Turgai Mokhbaliev, Maxim Aktisov, Daniil Petrunin, Maksim Sazonov (Nikita Morgunov 77 mins); Maksim Kalachevskii (Nikita Bakaliuk HT), Dimitrii Mitroga (Maksim Danilin HT); Dmitry Markitesov (Daniil Lopatin HT), Sergei Eremenko (Fanil Sungatulin 67 mins); Danila Proshliakov, Kirill Folmer.