Champions League: Unirea humiliate Rangers – is this worse than Kaunas debacle?
Published: October 20, 2009
Rangers European adventure turned into a nightmare, after they were humiliated by Unirea Urziceni, 4-1. Unirea are actually the smallest clubs to ever play in the Champions League and this must be one of the worst ever defeats in European history for the Ibrox side, it certainly beats the debacle that surrounded the Kaunas games last season.
It was Rangers second successive home 4-1 defeat in the Champions League. But it all started so well for Rangers. A Pedro Mendes’ drive looped in off Ricardo Vilana after just two minutes gone, to give Rangers the lead.
Marius Bilasco pulled a goal back for the Romanians after the Rangers defence was posted missing. And Steven Davis missed the chance to give Rangers the lead once again when his tame effort was easily saved by Tudor in the Romanian side’s goal.
That missed spot kick, was the beginning of the misery for Rangers as a deflected shot from Bruno Fernandez hit off Kyle Lafferty and went in off the post, and Lee McCulloch headed into his own net to pile more misery on Walter Smith’s men.
By this time the Rangers fans were making their feelings known and while many headed for the exits, many more booed echoing around Ibrox on possibly their worst ever night in European football.
The final nail in the coffin came when a free kick went in off Steven Naismith and as the final whistle sounded, Ibrox reverberated with boos once again from the fans who remained at the end.
The result was well deserved by the Romanian champions, but all the more humiliating for Rangers as it was Unirea’s first ever win in European football. A win that will possibly see their manager Dan Petrescu dining out for years to come.
The defeat now leaves Rangers bottom of the group and in real threat of being eliminated out of Europe altogether, unless they manage to beat Unirea away from home in the next game.
Certainly those 1,200 Armed Forces personnel must have thought about asking for a refund to their free tickets, while a worthwhile gesture from the club, it will be 90 minutes those men and women will not get back. In fact the British Army personnel must have witnessed the biggest withdrawal of personnel since Dunkirk at Ibrox tonight, given the exodus of fans after Unirea’s third and fourth goals.
On top of the defeat, the club could be possibly be fined by UEFA after objects were thrown onto the pitch by fans.
Fans Views
“For the very first time in my life, I’m ashamed of supporting the club I’ve loved since I was a lad. A club where one of my ancestors played over 100 years ago, a club I love dearly and a club every single family member supports. Walter Smith, the board of directors and the players are not fit to wear the Rangers jersey or represent my club. You have shamed Rangers FC, like no other manager or side has ever done in over 130 years of our history. I cannot express in words my disdain and contempt I hold these people in right now. Shame on each and every one of them.” -Wilhelm Anderson
“Is anyone else here on the verge of tears, I certainly am. If these so called players had any respect, their wages from this match would go to Erskine, they deserve nothing.” – Bouncy
“I’ve just had a text from my laddie saying ‘sorry Dad, left the game early, can’t watch anymore of that’. Best part of £100 it’s cost him to get down there today and I’m gutted for him, 2 games, 8 conceded.” -Hootsmon
“This just shows again our club needs a total rehaul too many mediocre players, no leader in the team and a manager that is too scared of losing.” – Singing bluenose
“His team, his players, his tactics, his backroom staff, and his budget that sees him squandering countless multiples of money that lot have spent, or infact any team we have played this season. Contract up in January…… please god, make him walk.” – Mitch
What are your views on the game?
Tagged with: Champions League, Rangers, unirea
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6 Comments on "Champions League: Unirea humiliate Rangers – is this worse than Kaunas debacle?"
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Dominic on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 11:27 am
Disgraceful behavior, but what do you expect from a shower of bigots.
Dominic on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 11:33 am
What a SPANKING !!!!!! two home games and two 4-1 drubbings. Has anyone honestly even heard of this team ?. Rangers are embarrassing the nation, im almost ashamed to be Scottish. Now lets hope the nation can get behind the Bhoys and restore some pride to Scotland. We need it after last night.
dannybhoy on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 4:46 pm
What a nice touch by the Romanians with Green City on there shirts must have been a reference to the book written by Archie Hind “Glasgow The Dear Green Place”!!!!!!!!!!
Dominic on Thu, 22nd Oct 2009 5:43 am
OOPS my first comment was meant to be in the Edu thread. The silence from Govan is deafening all the same.
dannybhoy on Thu, 22nd Oct 2009 8:48 am
Dominic as a man who was born in Govan i can assure you the Celtic fans are not in the minority.
Dominic on Thu, 22nd Oct 2009 10:16 am
Sorry dannybhoy I was referring to the soon to be 750 million pound stadium complex.