Swiss side too hungry for Rangers

SCOTLAND'S stock in Europe dipped again when Kubilay Turkyilmaz led Grasshopper to a victory in Zurich which was not only comprehensive, but thoroughly merited.

The striker's goals in each half - the second a free header from a corner kick on the left in the 79th minute - underlined the superiority of Swiss champions who took charge of the match from the start.

The Grasshoppers, pushed from the middle by the powerful and skilful Yakin, Magnin and Esposito and spearheaded by the clever, lightning quick pairing of Turkyilmaz and Moldovan, came off their stools like hungry contenders in a world championship fight.

Even before their first two goals, they had prompted a wonderful save from Goram, hit the crossbar and generally made the travelling support, huddled in a corner of the stadium, feel as though they had strayed into a ambush. Given Rangers' form in the qualifying round against Alania, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

The opening goal in the 18th minute came when Turkyilmaz, fouled by Bjorklund, only a foot from the by line on Rangers' left, took a free kick. The ball was played straight to the head of Yakin, who sent it downwards and over the line via Goram's right hand post.

Rangers were in complete disarray when the second was scored just nine minutes later. Petric fouled Turkyilmaz, and the elegant striker this time put a wicked curve on the ball with his left and, from 20 yards, it flew deep into Goram's left hand corner.

Rangers had, at that stage, managed only one worthwhile attack. Laudrup, Gascoigne, and Durie combined to allow Albertz a chance coming in from the left and the defender's low drive was pushed wide by the diving Zuberbuhler.

If Rangers markedly improved their territorial gains after the break, it seemed largely because Grasshopper adopted a what we have we hold policy, relying on the long through ball to the quick feet and wits of Turkyilmaz and Moldovan.

Laudrup, who had mainly been a huge disappointment for Rangers, had a sound claim for a penalty when be motored into the area from the right and was body chaecked by Yakin, but the protest went unheeded.

The replacement of Cleland by McInnes by Smith soon after was an indication of Rangers' urgent need of more threat in the forward areas, but the Swiss were, by then, very much in control exemplified by Turkyilmaz's final strike.