Rangers 1

FC Copenhagen 1

Scorers: Rangers - Lovenkrands (7); FC Copenhagen - Jonsson (51)

SO much for statistics. Rangers, we were reminded, had never conceded a goal against Danish opposition, dishing out brutal aggregate beatings to Herfolge and Lyngby in the unglamorous jousts prior to the glitzy Champions League group stage.

A simple strike from Todi Jonsson at Ibrox last night could prove catastrophic to Rangers' chances of returning to the money-pit of Europe's premier tournament but, worse than that, it could leave the club's agitated accountants bereft of the (pounds) 10m they crave to alleviate the alarming debt.

Alex McLeish's men will play in the pristine Parken Stadium in Copenhagen in two weeks burdened by the concession of an away goal and cursing their failure to capitalise on an encouraging opening during which they took the lead after seven minutes. Given the ease which the visitors carved open a disjointed defence in the second half, few would bet against Hans Backe's men adding to their tally on home soil.

Rangers can at least take comfort from the fact that their key men will never be so uninspiring. Ronald de Boer, who only 24 hours earlier spoke of his desire to be remembered as a great, was anonymous. His countrymen, Fernando Ricksen and Michael Mols, likewise. Though Barry Ferguson and, in particular, Mikel Arteta started sprightly against the ageing midfield duo of Peter Nielsen and Erik Mykland, the geriatrics ganged up on the young pretenders.

In their desire to keep Sibusiso Zuma at bay, the Rangers defence had overlooked Jonsson, the Faroese striker whose sole contribution was enough to ensure the Rangers players exited with boos ringing in their ears.

All is not yet lost but McLeish, while predictably defiant, realises his team now face an uphill struggle. ''The tie is still alive and we have to score in Copenhagen to have a chance of qualifying,'' he stated. ''I was very disappointed with the second half because we allowed them to get a bit of confidence back. The players can do it but we need improved performances from several of the players.''

He refused to divulge identities but he didn't need to. His future transfer budget now rests at their extortionate feet: ''Getting into the group phase will certainly help buy players.''

The Rangers manager resisted the temptation to reshuffle his pack after a convincing start to the Premierleague season against Kilmarnock but, notwithstanding the never-change-a-winning-team ethos, there was a shortage of tempting alternatives among the reserves; the unproven Nerlinger, Malcolm, and Thompson joined by the unfit summer recruits Berg, Capucho, and Vanoli.

Therein lies another problem if they overcome this handicap and join the cream of the continent. Serious strength in depth is an unaffordable luxury at present. Yet any trepidation surrounding such an important fixture so early in the season eased after a rumbustuous start. A flurry of early fouls, designed to upset Rangers' rhythm, proved the visitors' undoing. Arteta's free-kick on the left clipped the one-man wall and caused the FCK goalkeeper, Balazs Rabuczki, to fling the ball feebly into the path of the on-rushing Lovenkrands, who dispatched the gift with gusto. His head-over-heels celebration was not in keeping with the mood of his countrymen.

Rangers were troubled only intermittently, but when they were, Zuma was invariably involved. Strong as an ox but as slippery as an eel, the South African striker almost made Maurice Ross pay for the kind of basic error which has become all to common. Needless to say, the full back was first for the hook.

Being their own worst enemies has been a fatal flaw for Rangers at this level in the last decade and as they struggled to add to their advantage against a team of lively but limited opponents, the restlessness among the fans intensified into full-blown acute discomfort.

Still, they eked out the better chances. Craig Moore displayed his aerial adeptness amid the corner kick chaos, but his commanding header was blocked by the keeper, whose instincts denied Mols on the rebound. His countryman, de Boer, was subdued despite the vast openings available to him and Lovenkrands on either flank. Indeed, aside from his goal, Lovenkrands did little to trouble Ole Tobiasen, a man whose body has been subjected to more surgery in the last few years than Demi Moore.

He was far from the only lethargic Rangers player afield, though, and the failure to go for the jugular had horrendous repercussions in the second half.

Nielsen broke free of the upstarts and watched a speculative shot bang off Moore's upper body, Jonsson was quickest to react and score what could prove the costliest goal in Rangers' history.

Sensing the turning of the tide, Nuno Capucho was summoned from the substitutes' bench while the introduction of Steven Thompson for de Boer signalled the scrapping of their patient build-up play in favour of a direct approach.

The damage was already done and while considerable, it is not irreparable.

Rangers

Klos

Ross Moore Khizanishvili Ball

Ricksen Ferguson Arteta

de Boer

Mols Lovenkrands

FC Copenhagen

Raboczki

Rooba Svensson Albrechtsen Tobiasen

Nielsen Myland Roll Larsen Norregaard

Zuma Jonsson

Substitutions

Rangers Capucho (Ross 58), Thompson (de Boer 69)

FC Copenhagen Moller (Jonsson 75)

Subs not used

Rangers McGregor, Nerlinger, Malcolm, Vanoli, Berg

FC Copenhagen Kihlstedt, Zivkovic, Bisgaard, Svard, Traore, Bech

REFEREE M E Mejuto Gonzalez (Spa)

Booked

Rangers Ferguson

FC Copenhagen Roll Larsen

Attendance 47,401