Mols produces double Dutch misery for PSV

MICHAEL MOLS' first two goals in the Champions' League since his £4m summer transfer from Utrecht helped Rangers to a commanding victory over PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox last night that took them to the top of Champions' League Group F.

MICHAEL MOLS' first two goals in the Champions' League since his £4m summer transfer from Utrecht helped Rangers to a commanding victory over PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox last night that took them to the top of Champions' League Group F.

Their campaign was aided by the draw between Valencia and Bayern Munich in Spain last night, which left those two sides on five points from four games, two points behind Rangers.

Dick Advocaat, the Rangers manager, gave Derek McInnes his first start of the season at the expense of Jörg Albertz, who was relegated to the bench despite scoring the only goal of the first game against PSV. McInnes took up the right-sided midfield role normally occupied by the American Claudio Reyna and Advocaat also recalled Neil McCann, in preference to Andrei Kanchelskis.

The changes paid off with goals from Lorenzo Amoruso and Mols putting Rangers in charge before Ruud van Nistelrooy pulled a goal back half-time with a controversial penalty. McCann added the third in the 56th minute and Mols wrapped up the scoring 11 minutes from time.

Rangers stepped up the pace after PSV had made a bright start, but they were wasteful in front of goal. McCann allowed the goalkeeper, Ivica Kralj, to clear with his legs in the 18th minute but a minute later Amoruso put Rangers in front with a bullet header under the bar after an inswinging corner from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Then the misses continued. Rod Wallace saw a shot blocked after Mols had played the ball back to him. Van Bronckhorst's cross in the 29th minute was deflected into the path of Sergio Porrini but Kralj was able to hack the ball away and Wallace scorned two clear-cut chances in the space of two minutes.

Rangers maintained the pressure and finally claimed a second goal six minutes before the break when McCann got away down the left and delivered the ball to the far post, where Mols headed home.

PSV, however, pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time when Van Nistelroy tumbled in the penalty area after a challenge from Craig Moore. The Italian referee, Pierluigi Collina, suprisingly pointed to the spot, and Van Nistelrooy converted the penalty.

Rangers picked up the pace at the start of the second half and restored their two-goal advantage in the 56th minute in slightly dubious circumstances. Van Bronckhorst hit a free-kick that Kralj could not hold. He was able to block the rebound from Wallace, but the ball broke behind him and McCann tucked it away from a suspiciously offside position.

Rangers: Klos; Porrini, Moore, Amoruso, Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Vidmar, McCann (Albertz, 70), McInnes, Mols (Johansson, 80), Wallace (Kanchelskis, 87). Substitutes not used: Amato, Adamczuk, Wilson, Charbonnier (gk).

PSV Eindhoven: Kralj; Faber, Heintze, Van Bommel, Khokhlov, Vogel, Nikiforov, Stinga (Rommedahl, 73), Wielaert (Kolkka, 30) Van Nistelrooy, Nilis (Bruggink, 85). Substitutes not used: Dirkx, Van Der Doelen, Addo, Lodewijks (gk).

Referee: P Collina (Italy).