Rangers break Italian duck

Livorno 2 Rangers 3

Rangers enjoyed a memorable night in Tuscany after an impressive win over Livorno in the UEFA Cup Group A opener tonight.

The Scots produced a classy display with three goals in the opening half to earn the club’s first-ever triumph on Italian soil.

Charlie Adam opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Kris Boyd doubled the lead three minutes later from the penalty spot.

Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli reduced the deficit with a spot-kick short after the half-hour but Paul Le Guen’s decision to start Nacho Novo in place of Dado Prso paid dividends with the Spaniard netting Rangers’ third 10 minutes before the break – the game’s fourth goal in little more than eight minutes.

Lucarelli gave Livorno a lifeline a minute from time, but time ran out for the UEFA Cup newcomers, flying high in Serie A.