By OUR MAN AT THE DRAGÃO
RANGERS’ European dreams didn’t just flicker and die in the Portuguese rain—they were doused by a bucket of their own making.
Despite a dream start from French star Djeidi Gassama, Danny Röhl’s men suffered a first-half “Dragao Disaster,” falling 3-1 to a clinical FC Porto.
The Light Blues arrived in Portugal with only pride to play for, but for twenty minutes, they looked like world-beaters.
Findlay Curtis—the teenage sparkplug—delivered a delicious cross in the 6th minute that was met by a thumping header from Gassama. The winger’s effort hit the turf and zipped past a stranded Diogo Costa, sending the traveling Gers into raptures.
But the sunshine was short-lived.
Teenage Terror
The tide turned in the 27th minute thanks to Porto’s own wonderkid. Rodrigo Mora, only 18 but playing like a seasoned matador, pounced on a loose ball in the box.
He didn’t blink, coolly slotting past Jack Butland to restore parity and ignite the home crowd.
Then came the “Comedy of Errors” that will haunt Röhl’s nightmares.
In the 36th minute, a speculative ball into the box saw skipper James Tavernier and Butland perform an accidental tango, colliding and leaving the goal gaping. Porto star Francisco Moura couldn’t believe his luck, prodding the ball into an empty net to make it 2-1.
Own Goal Agony
The knockout blow landed just before the break. William Gomes, a constant menace on the flank, whipped in a wicked corner.
Under pressure from the surging Porto front line, Gers defender Emmanuel Fernandez got his angles all wrong, inadvertently heading the ball into his own net.
Rangers tried to find a spark in the second half, with Nicolas Raskin testing Costa from range, but the Portuguese giants—led by the tireless Alan Varela—slammed the door shut.
While Porto march into the last 16, Rangers head back to Ibrox to focus on a domestic title race, knowing that on the big stage, individual errors are the ultimate star-killers.
