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Night to forget for Socceroo, hosts in Champions League

Night to forget for Socceroo, hosts in Champions League

Perth Now2 days ago
Socceroo Daniel Arzani's hopes of playing in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage have suffered a massive blow.
His Hungarian side Ferencvaros were beaten 3-1 by Qarabag in their play-off first leg.
The former Melbourne City, Macarthur FC and Melbourne Victory attacker didn't get off the bench in Budapest, but will hope to play a part in the return game in Azerbaijan next week.
Elsewhere on Tuesday night, 1991 winners Crvena zvezda were also beaten in their own stadium, going down 2-1 to Cypriot champions Pafos in Belgrade.
And Rangers' horror start to their season continued at home, losing 3-1 to Club Brugge.
Wins over Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in previous qualifiers had revealed flaws in Russell Martin's new-look Gers side and raised concerns in the stands, as did back-to-back draws to start their Scottish Premiership campaign.
And once again the former Southampton boss incurred the ire of the Light Blue legions at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow.
Defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland.
And further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes.
Rangers' second-half display was heartening, with Brazilian striker Danilo pulling a goal back four minutes after the break.
"My message to supporters is the team needs them. Whatever happens, we need them. We have to give them enough to believe in their team," Martin said.
"We conceded a crazy goal and didn't respond to it anywhere well enough.
"I am proud of them and the first half was as hard as it will ever be and how they got through that, some of the guys who have had a tough start here, the way they played tonight, they will grow from that and we will as a group.
"So the tie is still game on so I am excited about that opportunity."
With AAP.
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