Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk consigned Rangers to another early European exit with two goals in a 3-2 victory for Feyenoord this evening. That handed the Dutch side a 4-3 aggregate win in the fourth round UEFA Cup clash and a place in the quarter-finals with either Leeds United or fellow Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Goals from Neil McCann and Barry Ferguson were not enough as van Hooijdonk struck twice from free-kicks, with Bonaventure Kalou providing the winner.
Rangers took the lead in the 26th minute when McCann timed his run brilliantly to sidefoot home a quickly taken Barry Ferguson free-kick. Van Hooijdonk equalised 11 minutes later with a superbly struck free-kick, and the same player confirmed his reputation as one of Europe's most lethal dead ball specialists with a second free-kick just before the break.
Feyenoord took just one minute of the second half to stretch their lead when Robin van Persie hit the post. Van Hooijdonk was first to the loose ball and crossed for Kalou to head home from close range and give the home side a two goal cushion. Rangers were back in the match almost straight away when Patrick Paauwe brought Michael Mols down in the box to concede a penalty, with the defender being shown a straight red card as he was the last defender.
Ferguson, just as he had done in the first leg, made no mistake from the spot, and another Rangers goal would have squared the tie and put them ahead on away goals. However, in the 73rd minute Rangers' man advantage evaporated when McCann stupidly got himself sent off, with his second booking for dissent, and with it went Rangers' chance of a possible 'Battle of Britain' clash with David O'Leary's Leeds.
Filed by Shane Murray
