Aberdeen 0-1 Rangers

Jelavic scored with a spectacular strike after 22 minutes against Aberdeen
Nikica Jelavic's spectacular first-half overhead kick was enough to secure a win over Aberdeen that moves edgy Rangers to within two points of Celtic.

Sone Aluko and Josh Magennis both tested Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor in a lively Dons start.

But Jelavic struck with a superb piece of skill and finish after 22 minutes.

Aluko, Magennis and Chris Maguire thereafter came closest to a goal, while Maurice Edu cleared off Rangers' line from a Rob Milsom cross.

And it was reigning champions Rangers who took the points somewhat against the run of play to keep pace with the Scottish Premier League leaders.

Walter Smith's visitors were without on-loan Richard Foster, who was ineligible to play against his parent club, so teenager Jamie Ness came into midfield with Edu filling in at right-back.

Zander Diamond recovered from a stomach injury to replace Nikola Vujadinovic at the back for Aberdeen, while strikers Scott Vernon and Magennis were included at the expense of Nick Blackman and Peter Pawlett.

That attacking intent translated into early chances for the home side, with Aluko failing to connect the first time with a Magennis cross when he looked likely to score then firing into the arms of McGregor after meeting a second.

Jelavic (right) opened the scoring for Rangers at Pittodrie

Magennis was having a lively start himself and his volley forced McGregor into a superb save, the Scotland international clawing it away for a corner.

Rangers had huffed and puffed their way to wins over St Johnstone and Hamilton Accies in their previous two games and were finding it difficult to respond to the Dons challenge.

However, the visitors gradually worked their way into the game, with Sasa Papac firing straight at goalkeeper Jamie Langfield and Jelavic shooting just wide.

It was thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Jelavic that Rangers broke the deadlock after 22 minutes.

The Croat gathered the ball from striker partner Kyle Lafferty on his chest 18 yards out with his back to goal, out muscled his marker and swivelled to fire the ball past a helpless Langfield.

Aberdeen responded and Aluko sent a 25-yard drive a few feet over, while Magennis was first to threaten after the break with an effort straight at McGregor.

Maguire pounced on a mistake by Steven Whittaker and moved inside before firing just wide of the post under pressure from Edu.

Magennis headed straight at McGregor from close range after Diamond had touched on a Milsom free-kick.

Rangers were now hanging on and, when Whittaker handled as Aluko attempted to break into the box, Edu knocked the ball off the goal-line after Milsom fired the ball across goal.

Kyle Hutton went close with a 30-yard drive as the young Rangers substitute threatened in response, but one goal was enough to ensure that Aberdeen suffered their fourth straight defeat.

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Scottish Premier

Final Result Full Time 90:00+4:14 The referee blows his whistle to end the game. 89:30 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line, save made by Jamie Langfield. 88:30 Corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line to the near post, Maurice Edu takes a shot. Save by Jamie Langfield. Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Andrew Considine. 87:31 The ball is sent over by Kyle Lafferty, blocked by Derek Young. 87:31 Substitution David Healy comes on in place of Nikica Jelavic. 85:33 The ball is sent over by El-Hadji Diouf, save by Jamie Langfield. 85:03 El-Hadji Diouf takes the outswinging corner, Zander Diamond manages to make a clearance. 83:33 Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Zander Diamond gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf, Andrew Considine manages to make a clearance. 82:28 A cross is delivered by Ryan Jack. 81:15 Unfair challenge on Nikica Jelavic by Robert Milsom results in a free kick. El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball in from the free kick, Kyle Lafferty gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Blackman. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 80:26 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Maguire. Allan McGregor takes the free kick. 80:26 Substitution Nick Blackman replaces Josh Magennis. 78:49 The ball is delivered by Steven Davis, clearance by Andrew Considine. Outswinging corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line played to the near post, Close range header by Nikica Jelavic misses to the right of the target. 78:29 Ryan Jack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf. David Weir restarts play with the free kick. 77:00 Zander Diamond concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyle Lafferty. The free kick is delivered right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from left channel, clearance made by Derek Young. 77:00 Booking Booking for Zander Diamond for dissent. 76:33 The ball is swung over by Sone Aluko, save made by Allan McGregor. 75:45 Long range shot by Kyle Hutton goes wide left of the goal. 75:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Andrew Considine. Direct free kick taken by El-Hadji Diouf. 73:15 The referee gives a free kick against Steven Whittaker for handball. Free kick taken by Chris Maguire. Robert Milsom produces a cross. The referee blows for offside. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick. 71:23 Nikica Jelavic has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal. 70:41 Zander Diamond concedes a free kick for a foul on El-Hadji Diouf. El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball in from the free kick, Zander Diamond manages to make a clearance. 70:08 The ball is sent over by Sone Aluko, clearance made by Steven Whittaker. 68:43 The ball is delivered by Chris Maguire. 68:22 The ball is sent over by Kyle Hutton, Jamie Langfield makes a comfortable save. 67:54 Unfair challenge on Kyle Lafferty by Derek Young results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sasa Papac. 65:28 Substitution Kyle Hutton replaces Jamie Ness. 65:18 Robert Milsom has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target. 64:46 Chris Maguire takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Maurice Edu. 63:49 Substitution Gregg Wylde leaves the field to be replaced by El-Hadji Diouf. 62:22 Chris Maguire sends in a cross, Steven Whittaker manages to make a clearance. 61:01 Maurice Edu challenges Chris Maguire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Milsom delivers the ball, Josh Magennis takes a shot. Comfortable save by Allan McGregor. 61:01 Booking Booking for Maurice Edu for unsporting behaviour. 57:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Jack on Steven Davis. Sasa Papac takes the indirect free kick. 56:32 Substitution Clark Robertson comes on in place of Steven Smith. 55:53 Chris Maguire gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Weir. Allan McGregor takes the indirect free kick. 54:43 Effort from the edge of the area by Chris Maguire goes wide of the right-hand upright. 53:29 The official flags Chris Maguire offside. Indirect free kick taken by Allan McGregor. 52:25 Unfair challenge on Ryan Jack by Kyle Lafferty results in a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the indirect free kick. Correction - 51:13 A cross is delivered by Chris Maguire, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save made by Allan McGregor. 51:13 The ball is delivered by Chris Maguire, Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save made by Allan McGregor. 50:47 The ball is swung over by Josh Magennis. 47:57 Chris Maguire produces a cross, save by Allan McGregor. 47:31 The ball is delivered by Sone Aluko. 45:42 Foul by Derek Young on Steven Naismith, free kick awarded. Nikica Jelavic has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 45:01 The referee gets the second half started. Half Time 45:00+1:01 The players leave the pitch at half time. 45:00+0:01 Steven Naismith concedes a free kick for a foul on Sone Aluko. Chris Maguire takes the free kick. Robert Milsom produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar. 43:16 A cross is delivered by Gregg Wylde. 42:38 Effort from just outside the area by Sone Aluko goes over the target. 42:24 Chris Maguire delivers the ball, blocked by Steven Whittaker. 39:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nikica Jelavic by Andrew Considine. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Davis. 38:32 Robert Milsom concedes a free kick for a foul on Maurice Edu. Sasa Papac takes the free kick. 37:18 Steven Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Davis. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick. 35:52 Steven Davis challenges Sone Aluko unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sone Aluko restarts play with the free kick. 34:58 Scott Vernon is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Allan McGregor. 33:49 Centre by Steven Davis, Andrew Considine manages to make a clearance. 33:15 Foul by Chris Maguire on David Weir, free kick awarded. Steven Whittaker takes the direct free kick. 31:35 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Vernon. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick. 31:08 Chris Maguire produces a cross, comfortable save by Allan McGregor. 29:54 Steven Smith crosses the ball. 27:36 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Maguire. Allan McGregor takes the free kick. 26:33 Chris Maguire sends in a cross, save by Allan McGregor. 25:22 Jamie Ness challenges Chris Maguire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Maguire takes the direct free kick. The ball is swung over by Derek Young, blocked by Maurice Edu. 25:22 Booking Jamie Ness is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 23:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by David Weir on Josh Magennis. Free kick crossed left-footed by Robert Milsom from right wing, clearance by Maurice Edu. 21:41 GOAL - Nikica Jelavic:Aberdeen 0 - 1 Rangers Nikica Jelavic finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Rangers. 21:05 Steven Whittaker fouled by Chris Maguire, the ref awards a free kick. Allan McGregor takes the free kick. 19:03 Foul by Jamie Ness on Sone Aluko, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Chris Maguire, clearance by Nikica Jelavic. 18:19 The ball is crossed by Sone Aluko. 16:58 The ball is sent over by Kyle Lafferty, clearance by Zander Diamond. Gregg Wylde delivers the ball, clearance by Andrew Considine. 15:06 Steven Smith produces a cross, clearance made by Gregg Wylde. 14:16 Kyle Lafferty has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post. 12:07 Kyle Lafferty crosses the ball, clearance by Zander Diamond. Corner taken left-footed by Gregg Wylde from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Robert Milsom. 11:24 Sasa Papac takes a shot. Jamie Langfield makes a save. 10:03 Josh Magennis challenges Sasa Papac unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sasa Papac crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Andrew Considine. 8:16 Andrew Considine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyle Lafferty. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Weir, clearance made by Andrew Considine. 7:20 Steven Naismith has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright. 6:32 Steven Smith produces a cross, Shot by Josh Magennis. Save by Allan McGregor. 5:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by Maurice Edu on Chris Maguire. Sone Aluko restarts play with the free kick. 3:03 Josh Magennis crosses the ball, Effort on goal by Sone Aluko from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal. 2:13 Centre by Josh Magennis, save by Allan McGregor. 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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Rangers beat Felix and the Mariners to stay undefeated

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mitch Moreland (FSY) delivered the tiebreaking double for the still undefeated Texas Rangers off Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez (FSY). The young first baseman then earned a dinner from new teammate Adrian Beltre (FSY) for his work with the glove.

2nd Ld-Writethru

Eds: Rangers 7, Mariners 3. New approach.

By Matthew Emmons, US Presswire

David Murphy celebrates after scoring the go ahead run with manager Ron Washington in the seventh inning.

By Matthew Emmons, US Presswire

David Murphy celebrates after scoring the go ahead run with manager Ron Washington in the seventh inning.

Moreland put the Rangers ahead to stay with his RBI double into the right-field corner in the seventh. He then started the next inning with an incredible snag of Beltre's bounced throw after the Gold Glove third baseman made an equally impressive stop in the Rangers' 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

"It was OK. He made a better play than I did because it was a tough hop I threw over there, a little two-seamer low. He picked it very nice," said Beltre, who snagged Milton Bradley's (FSY) hard high chopper near the line. "Every time he does that I owe him a dinner. Hopefully he can save me a lot of errors."

So far this season, the AL champion Rangers are flawless.

They wrapped up their season-opening homestand with their first 6-0 start since 1996, when they set a team record by winning their first seven games. Texas has a day off Thursday before starting its first road trip of the season Friday in Baltimore.

"Everybody's talking about homers, but pitching and defense got us where we needed to be, got us six big wins," designated hitter Michael Young (FSY) said.

Moreland's go-ahead hit in the seventh inning, which he pulled down the line into the right-field corner, made a winner of C.J. Wilson (FSY) (1-0). Arthur Rhodes (FSY), the 41-year-old lefty, needed only four pitches to get through the 3-4-5 batters in the Seattle lineup in the eighth.

Hernandez (1-1) allowed four runs, two unearned, in seven innings. He struck out six and walked three.

"It was the wind first, I couldn't get my balance. But after that I felt good. All the pitchers were working," Hernandez said. "I know they're gonna swing anyway, so I just have to make good pitches. It was pretty good today, I got seven innings."

A pair of errors by newly converted second baseman Jack Wilson (FSY) led to the Mariners' troubles.

After pitching a complete game on opening day, Hernandez started against Texas with a 10-pitch walk to Ian Kinsler (FSY). The right-hander also walked AL MVP Josh Hamilton (FSY) in the first without giving up a run.

But in the second, Hernandez allowed consecutive one-out singles and a walk to the bottom three hitters in the Texas lineup to load the bases. Wilson then made consecutive errors on what could have been ending-inning double plays.

Kinsler hit a grounder to third baseman Chone Figgins (FSY), whose throw to second was bobbled by Wilson without getting an out when a run scored. The next play was a grounder to shortstop Brendan Ryan (FSY), and Wilson got the forceout but threw wide of first after Kinsler slid in hard. Wilson was knocked to the ground and two runs scored on the errant throw.

Luis Rodriguez (FSY) replaced Wilson at second base to start the bottom of the third.

"(Wilson) was a little hazy after that play at second base," manager Eric Wedge said. "He was having trouble getting it back to we had to take him out."

Known for making stellar plays at shortstop, Wilson had only played that position during 10 years in the majors until being shifted to second base this season. Ryan took over as the starting shortstop.

C.J. Wilson gave up two earned runs and six hits over seven innings. The crafty left-hander was a 15-game winner last season when he made the transition from reliever to starter.

"I thought he matched (Hernandez) pitch for pitch," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He held his composure and got us through seven innings. ... Fortunatley we were able to come back and get some runs, and get the win. He deserved it."

The Rangers broke it open in the bottom half of the eighth with three runs, two on a double by Nelson Cruz (FSY) off Brandon League (FSY).

After playing their first six games on the road, the Mariners (2-4) have a day off Thursday before their home opener against Cleveland, Wedge's old team.

During pregame festivities Friday in Seattle, Hernandez will be presented his Cy Young Award he won last season when he was 13-12 with a league-best 2.27 ERA.

Rodriguez had a leadoff double in the fifth and scored on a grounder. Bradley led off the sixth with a double and scored on a single by Jack Cust (FSY).

NOTES: The Rangers are the first team since 2003 to win at least six consecutive games to open a season. That year, Kansas City started 9-0 and San Francisco was 7-0. ... Mariners C Adam Moore (FSY) left the game in the eighth after hurting his right knee when retrieving a bounced pitched that he blocked and had just retrieved. He will have an MRI on Thursday. ... Beltre, who is hitting only .125 (3 for 24), snapped an 0-for-14 slump since his grand slam Saturday when a bad-hop single in the third. ... After the day off Thursday, the Mariners are scheduled to play 17 consecutive days. ... C.J. Wilson's career record is now 28-28.

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