Colts Lose To Sevilla

Rangers 0 Sevilla 1

It was certainly a closer contest than the last time we met Spanish opposition in the Champions Youth League, but over the ninety minutes Sevilla were the better team and deserved their win. It was also fitting that the winning goal was scored by Carlos Alvarez who was the best player on the pitch.

Rangers started brightly and there were three minutes on the clock when Alex Lowry went past three players in midfield and passed to Cole McKinnon on the right, he played the ball forward to Ross McCausland who burst into the right side of the box with Alberto Flores beating away his shot. A couple of minutes later Cole McKinnon’s shot seemed to be deflecting into Robbie Ure’ path inside the six yard box but a superb challenge from Kike Salas cleared the ball for a corner.

On the quarter hour mark Carlos Alvarez delivered a free-kick from midway inside Rangers half and left of centre, Marcelo Exposito glanced a header just wide of the far post. A couple of minutes shy of the half hour mark Carlos Alvarez burst past three Rangers defenders into the box where the ball broke to Diego Fernandez who was denied by a Jay Hogarth point blank save.

Six minutes later and Carlos Alvarez was threatening again as he attacked the left side of the box, he passed inside to Alexandro Fernandez who’s shot deflected to Antonio Zarazana inside the right side of the box but he shot across goal and wide. In the next attack a cross from the right found Sergio Martinez unmarked inside the left side of the penalty area with Jay Hogarth again producing a fine save at point blank range.

Just before the break Carlos Alvarez received a pass from Juanlu and found his way through the Rangers defence and deep inside the penalty area, he poked the ball towards goal but was denied as Jay Hogarth blocked the effort with an outstretched foot.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Sevilla 0

Sevilla started the second half where they ended the first, on the front foot. Their first chance came when Antonio Zarzana on the right passed inside to Carlos Alvarez who’s shot from the edge of the box forced Jay Hogarth to save low to his right. Within seconds Carlos Alvarez found himself with a chance right in from of goal, his initial shot rebounded from Jay Hogarth’s right hand post but he reacted to net the rebound.

Ten minutes into the second half a poor throw out  gave possession to Antonio Zarzana on the right, he passed in side to Juanlu who shot straight at Jay Hogath from around twenty-five yards. The visitors came close again midway through the half, Antonio Zarzana sent a corner from the right towards the back post where Marcelo Exposito’s header forced a save from Jay Hogarth.

The game had just entered the final quarter hour when Sevilla were reduced to ten men, Marcelo Exposito shown a straight red card following an off the ball incident with Alex Lowry. Rangers had their best chance of the game with seven minutes remaining, Tony Weston played the ball inside from the left hand byline, Rory Wilson managed to force the ball past keeper Alberto Flores but Sergio Martinez was well placed to clear from the line.

The impressive Carlos Alvarez relieved the Sevilla defence going past two Rangers players before shooting straight at Jay Hogarth from distance. Rangers exerted a bit of pressure on the Sevilla defence with two minutes remaining with the ball eventually falling to Alex Lowry on the edge of the box but his shot was just too high and wide.

The Spanish side comfortably saw out the six minutes of injury time to progress to the next round.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Sevilla 1

Rangers:- Jay Hogarth; Adam Devine, Kyle McClelland, Leon King, Robbie Fraser; Murray Miller; Cole McKinnon, Charlie Lindsay (Tony Weston 53 mins); Ross McCausland (Arron Lyall 72 mins), Robbie Ure (Rory Wilson 81 mins), Alex Lowry.

Not Used:- Lewis Budinauckas (Gk), Greig Allen, Johnly Yfeko, Connor Allan;

Sevilla:- Alberto Flores; Angel Mancheno, Dario Benavides, Kike Salas, Sergio Martinez; Marcelo Exposito; Antonio Zarzana (Juanan Aguilera 86 mins), Juanlu, Carlos Alvarez; Diego Fernandez (Manu Bueno 72 mins), Alexandro Fernandez (Gonzalo Guzman 89 mins).

Not Used:- Adrian Romero (Gk), Pablo Riviera, Ivan Salguero, Juan Gonzalez.