Rangers denied in Israel

Hapoel Tel Aviv  2-1 Rangers: Rangers' undefeated run in Europe this season came to an end when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against…

Hapoel Tel Aviv  2-1 Rangers:Rangers' undefeated run in Europe this season came to an end when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Hapoel Tel Aviv in their Third Round first leg UEFA Cup tie in Israel.

The home side took the lead through an impressive free-kick by Salim Toama just before the break before Nacho Novo hauled Rangers back into the game, adding to the goals he had already scored in the tournament against Livorno, Auxerre and Maccabi Haifa.

But Baruch Dago ensured the win for the Israelis when he grabbed the winner with 15 minutes to go - just when it looked as though Rangers would hold on for a crucial draw.

The reverse also means the current crop of players have failed to better the club record of 12 European games without defeat, which was set by Walter Smith's side during his first spell as manager in the 1990s.

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Toama fired the hosts in front three minutes from the end of an open first half after David Weir had brought down Izbita Ogbona on the edge of area.

Novo levelled when Barry Ferguson's free-kick came back off the post and he converted the rebound with his knee but Degu won it for the home side when he burst into the box and slid in Elyaniv Barda's shot, which looked to be going wide of the target.