Young Boys 2-1 Rangers: Steven Gerrard's side suffer stoppage-time defeat
Christian Fassnacht's 93rd-minute strike denied Rangers top spot in the group
Rangers had top spot in their Europa League group ripped from them inside stoppage time after Christian Fassnacht snatched a late winner for Young Boys.
Two errors by James Tavernier cost Steven Gerrard's side, who led through Alfredo Morelos and had the better chances against the Swiss champions.
First, Tavernier lost possession near his own corner flag in the lead up to Roger Assale's leveller, then the captain's slip allowed Fassnacht to burst forward and scud a 93rd-minute winner past Allan McGregor.
Feyenoord's victory over Porto in Rotterdam means all four teams in Group G now have three points from their opening two games.
Rangers now face a double header against Porto, travelling to face the group favourites in Portugal in three week's time.
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Reaction & as it happened
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Young Boys have last laugh
For 93 minutes of this contest, it appeared Rangers had delivered another accomplished performance in keeping with their ongoing development in continental combat. Prior to this defeat, Gerrard had lost just twice in 23 Europa League games and for large swathes in Bern, that experience was evident.
They were defensively unflustered, disciplined in midfield, and sporadically menacing in attack against a side who were only denied a Champions League group stage place by Red Star Belgrade on away goals.
Morelos' opener was ample reward for an unfussy first-half performance. The Colombian striker had earlier scuffed a tame effort straight at goalkeeper David von Ballmoos after scuttling on to a Borna Barisic pass into the left channel, but he was much more clinical when a near-identical opportunity came again. This time, the 23-year-old barrelled after the ball, bounced Frederik Sorensen aside, and advanced into the box before whipping a clinical finish across Von Ballmoos.
It was his ninth European goal this season and a 13th in 25 Europa League games for a Rangers side who were suddenly in command of an even contest. Indeed, they might even have doubled their interval lead had Sheyi Ojo not slashed an an effort across the face of goal just before the whistle.
Young Boys, who had lost their opener in Porto, had previously gone 24 games unbeaten at the Stade de Suisse and had lost just once in 14 this term. It was only to be expected, then, that they would be roused after the interval and it took them just five minutes to restore parity en route to reviving their Group G ambitions.
Tavernier was caught on the ball near his own corner flag and, when Ulisses Garcia flashed a delivery across the face of goal, Assale took advantage of Filip Helander being unable to intercept by thrusting out a leg to divert into the net.
With Rangers having opted not to take up their ticket allocation in response to a second Uefa charge for sectarian singing, only a pocket of their fans had managed to find their way into the ground. They were drowned out by a home support enlivened by the goal, but the change in atmosphere did not unduly affect the visitors.
Indeed, it was Rangers who continued to cleave the better openings. A ferocious Morelos lash from the right apex of the area was unconvincingly shovelled over by Von Ballmoos, then the Colombian might have had a penalty after appearing to be caught by Garcia at the back post. The striker then had one more chance, only to see his fierce deflected effort pushed away by Von Ballmoos.
Still, a point would have been a valuable prize after the opening win over Feyenoord and that looked the most likely outcome as the game neared a conclusion.
However, when a clearing Helander header was redirected back towards the Rangers defence, Tavernier lost his footing as he tried to clear, allowing Fassnacht to stride forward and fizz a low strike past Allan McGregor. Within a few seconds, Gerrard's side had gone from topping the group to wondering what had gone wrong.
Man of the match - Steven Davis
BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at Stade de Suisse
This was a harsh lesson for Steven Gerard and his players. Not only should they not have lost, but they could easily have taken all three points and set themselves up for the rest of the campaign.
They can look at the mistakes by Tavernier, which handed the Swiss champions the victory, but Rangers certainly showed enough on the night to suggest that, if they can eradicate their errors, progress in the competition is well within their grasp.
On a night when few Rangers players stood out, the the experience of Steven Davis was evident. Now a veteran, he played a major part in setting up Morelos for his goal and he will feel hard done by finishing up on the losing side.
Alfredo Morelos might have had a second-half penalty for RangersMatch stats
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Young Boys have ended Rangers' nine game unbeaten run on the road across all competitions (W7 D3 L0 previously)
The Swiss have won 13 of their previous 18 home matches in the Europa League (D1 L4), winning their last two contests after conceding first
Rangers are winless in their last 13 group games away from home since beating Sporting 2-0 in the Uefa Cup in April 2008
Morelos has scored 14 goals in his 18 games for Rangers in all competitions this season
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Young Boys
26von Ballmoos
23Janko
3SörensenBooked at 52mins
5ZesigerBooked at 87mins
21García
16Fassnacht
20Aebischer
28Lustenberger
11GaudinoSubstituted forMoumi Ngamaleuat 73'minutes
17AssaléSubstituted forLotombaat 67'minutes
18Nsame
Substitutes
1Wölfli
6Petignat
13Moumi Ngamaleu
14Bürgy
19Mambimbi
29Lotomba
60Schüpbach
Rangers
1McGregor
2TavernierBooked at 90mins
6Goldson
5Helander
31Barisic
10DavisBooked at 90mins
37Arfield
8JackSubstituted forStewartat 65'minutes
18Kamara
11Ojo
20MorelosBooked at 89mins
Substitutes
9Defoe
13Foderingham
16Halliday
19Katic
21Barker
24Stewart
29King
Referee:
Manuel Schüttengruber
Match Stats
Home TeamYoung BoysAway TeamRangers
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home12
Away8
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home14
Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Young Boys 2, Rangers 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Young Boys 2, Rangers 1.
Goal!Posted at 90'+3'
Goal! Young Boys 2, Rangers 1. Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cédric Zesiger with a headed pass.
Posted at 90'+3'
Offside, Rangers. James Tavernier tries a through ball, but Connor Goldson is caught offside.
Posted at 90'+2'
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Fabian Lustenberger (Young Boys).
BookingPosted at 90'+1'
Steven Davis (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 90'+1'
James Tavernier (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
Posted at 90'+1'
Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by David von Ballmoos.
Posted at 90'
Attempt saved. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Scott Arfield.
BookingPosted at 89'
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
Posted at 89'
Fabian Lustenberger (Young Boys) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 87'
Cédric Zesiger (Young Boys) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 87'
Offside, Rangers. Alfredo Morelos tries a through ball, but James Tavernier is caught offside.
Posted at 87'
Attempt saved. Frederik Sörensen (Young Boys) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michel Aebischer.
Posted at 86'
Michel Aebischer (Young Boys) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Greg Stewart (Rangers).
Posted at 82'
Foul by Cédric Zesiger (Young Boys).
Posted at 82'
Greg Stewart (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 81'
Offside, Rangers. Scott Arfield tries a through ball, but Greg Stewart is caught offside.
Posted at 79'
Offside, Rangers. Greg Stewart tries a through ball, but Sheyi Ojo is caught offside.
Posted at 78'
Offside, Young Boys. Fabian Lustenberger tries a through ball, but Cédric Zesiger is caught offside.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Young Boys. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
Posted at 77'
Attempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jean-Pierre Nsame.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Frederik Sörensen (Young Boys).
Posted at 76'
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 74'
Attempt blocked. Fabian Lustenberger (Young Boys) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Young Boys. Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu replaces Gianluca Gaudino.
Posted at 72'
Saidy Janko (Young Boys) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Sheyi Ojo (Rangers).
Posted at 69'
Saidy Janko (Young Boys) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Glen Kamara (Rangers).
SubstitutionPosted at 67'
Substitution, Young Boys. Jordan Lotomba replaces Roger Assalé.
Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gianluca Gaudino with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Young Boys. Conceded by James Tavernier.
Posted at 65'
Attempt blocked. Gianluca Gaudino (Young Boys) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Source: bbc.com
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