Rangers 2 Dundee 0
By Dundeefc.net
April 25 2002
Dundee went down to Rangers by two goals to nil despite a dogged performance at Ibrox. They created chances to score but unfortunately Juan Sara was having an off day.
Rangers 2(Mols 24, Ricksen 68)
DUNDEE 0
Attendance: 48,030
Referee: John Rowbotham
Subs: Milne (for Sara 62), Robertson (for Nemsadze 88)Mathers, Coyne, Boylan
Sent Off:
Rangers: McCann
Dundee: Carranza
Booked:
Rangers:-
Dundee: Khizanishvili, Nemsadze
Marcello Marrocco was back in the starting line up after injury, also starting was Juan Sara who had recovered from a knock in training.
The match was marred by two sending off's, with Neil McCann and Beto Carranza heading for early baths after separate clashes.
Claudio Caniggia, recovered from his rib injury, starting alongside Mols up front for Rangers.
Rangers came at the Dee's straight from kick off, but despite all their early pressure it was Dundee who created the first real chance of the match.
Beto Carranza gave Vidmar the slip after the defender's embarrassing and ill-timed lunge for the ball.
Beto drove down the right wing and cut the ball back for Fabian Caballero inside the box but his effort struck a defender's leg and ricocheted to safety.
Konterman's drive from outside the box was tipped over well by Jamie Langfield, before Rangers opened the scoring after 24 minutes.
Vidmar threaded a fine ball through to Mols on the right hand side of the Dundee box and the Dutch striker's movement allowed him a yard of space to spear a low drive past Jamie Langfield.
The game developed into an evenly matched midfield contest and it wasn't until 15 minutes later that another chance was created.
Beto Carranza picked up possession in midfield and dropped a glorious ball on to the head of the Juan Sara six yards out. The Argentinian striker, with four goals already this season, could only send his header yards over the bar when it looked easier to score.
Juan Sara was guilty again on the stroke of half-time. Fabian Caballero was the creator once again, wriggling into space on the right before curling a delicious cross onto Juan Sara's head. The striker may have been stretching to make contact but there was still no excuse for his dreadful header which flashed well wide.
Dundee looked like they would be made to rue their wastefulness in front of goal, when Rangers emerged after half time keen to add to their advantage.
Mols and Caniggia linked up well in the Dundee box before the ball fell back to Mols. He drove a low shot at Jamie Langfield which he saved with his feet.
Miller replaced Mols for Rangers after 54 minutes and immediately racked up a contender for miss of the season when he hit the post from three yards out much to the Dark Blues relief.
The Rangers youngster was released by Caniggia but seemed to run out of steam as he homed in on goal and his powder puff effort was collected easily by Jamie Langfield.
McCann released Caniggia down the left and he hit the by-line only to mis-hit his cut back. It looked like a lost cause but Ricksen stole the ball on the edge of the area and hit an accurate drive low into the bottom left corner past Jamie Langfield
.
Dundee rarely threatened after that and the match soon became ill-tempered.
McCann became involved with Barry Smith and after a tussle the ex-Dundee player received his marching orders much to the annoyance of the bigoted Ibrox faithful.
Beto Carranza was the next player to head for an early bath when he clashed with Ricksen as the match threatened to get out of hand.
After that the match settled down with neither team creating much in the last 20 minutes.