Three goals in 11 second-half minutes prevented Dundee United escaping with a
charmed point from Ibrox as the Light Blues eventually took another step towards
the title.
Strikes from Jorg Albertz, Billy Dodds and Rod Wallace between the 62nd and
73rd minutes ensured that the gap between the Light Blues and second-placed
Celtic reached 16 points - for 24 hours at least.
But it was a strange evening for the Gers with their luck seemingly deserting
them in favour of United goalkeeper Alan Combe, who enjoyed some outrageous
fortune in the first period.
Poor finishing and good judgement meant the Tannadice number one kept a clean
sheet in the first half as a bemused Stefan Klos watched from the other end of
the field - desperate for a touch of the ball.
But when Rangers boss Dick Advocaat swapped Neil McCann for Tugay at
half-time, the dice became loaded in the home side's favour.
Wallace should have given the champions-elect a flying start after just two
minutes.
Siggi Jonsson gave the ball away to Kanchelskis on the edge of the area and
the winger fiercely drove at goal.
Combe got his body behind the ball but could not hold the ball but Wallace,
under pressure from Jason de Vos lifted the ball over from just five yards.
Two minutes later, Combe was facing another fearsome shot when Jorg Albertz
let fly from 20 yards but the ball flew wide of goal.
Wallace was denied moments later after another poor clearance by a United
defender.
Canadian de Vos could only find Albertz with his ball. The German took the
ball on his chest and moved forward before playing a clever ball to Wallace on
the edge of the box.
Wallace jinked between two Tangerines' defenders and forced Combe to save
low.
United had never looked like moving out of their own half in the opening
period but Joaquim Ferraz had clearly decided that the defensive policy was not
the only one available.
The Tannadice man made space for himself on the corner of the Rangers box and
unleashed a drive which crashed against the crossbar before a grateful Arthur
Numan headed behind.
Rangers heeded the warning and began to step up the pace and a lovely Albertz
down the left found Numan zooming forward. The Dutchman crossed and Kanchelskis
hit the ball first time at the far post - but there was no real power in the
effort and Combe somehow scrambled clear.
Five minutes from time, Amoruso grazed the United bar from an Albertz corner.
But, at half-time, Rangers made a switch with Tugay being replaced by Neil
McCann as Dick Advocaat searched for more attacking options.
Wave upon wave of Rangers' attacks crashed against the United defence but the
visitors held firm.
Dodds and Amoruso were both denied. McCann's presence on the left was
troubling the Tangerines but it was Amoruso's cut inside from that flank which
almost broke the deadlock.
The Italian broke away from David Hannah and fired from 30 yards. Somehow
though, Combe's luck held and he pushed the ball away.
Three minutes later, the inevitable happened. Claudio Reyna broken into the
are down the left and crossed for an unmarked Albertz. The midfielder guided the
ball goalwards but Combe again denied but the German followed up and looped the
ball over the goalkeeper and Malpas on the line.
Four minutes later, the game was won as Dodds broke his former team-mates'
collective spirit.
A wonderful lobbed ball by Barry Ferguson was laid into the path of the
forward by Albertz and Dodds drove home from 12 yards.
The goals did not dry up and McCann played a great ball through the United
defence to an oncoming Wallace who fired past Combe.
Seconds later, Combe denied Wallace a second goal with a breathtaking save
after McCann had found the forward with a cross to the edge of the six-yard
box.
Amoruso and Wallace should both have added more before the end but Rangers
merely continued to canter towards the title.
Teams
Rangers: Klos, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson,
Kanchelskis (Malcolm 88), Wallace, Albertz, Reyna, Wilson,
Kerimoglu (McCann 46), Dodds (Rozental 73).
Subs Not Used: Van Bronckhorst, Charbonnier.
Goals: Albertz 62, Dodds 66, Wallace 72.
Dundee Utd: Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, Jonsson,
Partridge (Malpas 47), Pascual, Easton, Hannah, Telesnikov,
Venetis (Thompson 63), Ferraz (Jenkinson 78).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher, Hamilton.
Booked: Easton, Ferraz, Partridge, Telesnikov.
Att: 45,721
Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).
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