VIDEO - Hapoel Tel Aviv denied Rangers the chance to become the first Scottish side to go 13 matches unbeaten in Europe with a 2-1 win in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last 32 clash on Wednesday.
Baruch Dego's 73rd-minute strike ensured Rangers were beaten for the first time in any competition since Walter Smith returned to the manager's chair last month, Nacho Novo having earlier cancelled out a stunning first-half free-kick by Hapoel's Salim Toama.
Despite their indifferent domestic form, Rangers have proved surprisingly resilient in Europe since their unbeaten run began in October 2005.
And there was nothing in the opening 40 minutes to suggest that it was about to come to an end.
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| Rangers fans in Tel Aviv before game (video: Yoad Cohen) |
Despite an injury crisis which forced Smith to name four teenagers on the bench, Rangers appeared comfortably in control of the contest with captain Barry Ferguson dominating the midfield.
But the Scottish giants were left stunned two minutes before the interval after January signing David Weir fouled Hapoel's Izbita Ogbona a full 30 yards from goal.
The distance mattered little to Toama, who stepped up and curled a superb left-foot drive around the outside of the wall and into the top corner.
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Hapoel star Toama (middle) dribbles by Alan Hutton (photo:Eli Elgarat)
It was a rude awakening for the visitors but it was no real surprise when they equalized seven minutes after the restart.
A Ferguson free-kick from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off the wall and bounced back off the post, allowing Spanish striker Novo to bundle the ball over the line with his knee and get Rangers back on level terms.
The Scots however paid the price for going to sleep in the wake of the equalizer.
Elyaniv Barda was allowed to get in behind the back four on the right of the box and his mishit shot proved to be a perfect cross for Dego, who slotted the ball into the net from close to the penalty spot.
Despite a lackluster display, Rangers were somewhat unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when a Weir header was blocked with an arm and the visitors twice came close to grabbing an equalizer in the closing minutes.
CSKA's Krasic sandwiched by Masudi (L) and Suan (photo: AFP)
Charlie Adam's long-range lob was tipped over by Shavit Elimelech before Karl Svensson headed a Gavin Rae cross inches over the bar.
Those chances will have given Smith cause to believe that his side can overturn the one-goal deficit in next week's second leg at Ibrox, where Rangers have already beaten the Israel champions Maccabi Tel Aviv this season
Earlier on Wednesday Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa held 2005 winners CSKA Moscow to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first knockout round.
The Russian champions, who were missing Brazilian striker Vagner Love, controlled the tempo for much of the game but it was Maccabi who had the best chances early on.
Yaniv Katan hit the post from close range and Argentina-born Israeli international Roberto Colautti just missed the far post in the opening 20 minutes.
At the other end, Brazilian striker Jo, CSKA's top scorer last year, failed with his best chance in the first half.
After the break CSKA substitute Daniel Carhalho missed the target with a 20-meter free kick while fellow Brazil international Dudu headed over the bar.
"It was not one of our best matches to say the least," lamented CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev.
"We were making two many defensive mistakes tonight. Two of those mistakes could have even cost us dearly as they had two excellent chances to score."
Maccabi coach Roni Levi was understandably happy with a draw, saying: "0-0 is a great result for us."
_a.jpg "Photo: Eli Elgarat")
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