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Sevilla made it two wins from two in Champions League group G as they beat Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox Park.

Though Rangers more than held their own in a fiercely-contested, high-tempo first half, the Spaniards turned on the style in the second half to sweep their opponents away with goals from Abdoulay Zonko, Adriano, Luis Fabiano and Fredi Kanoute.

Nacho Novo's 88th-minute piledriver was a shot to savour, but little consolation for the hosts.

The referee had sparked the ire of the home fans by failing to award a clear penalty for a foul on Steven Naismith in the first half, and indeed continued to infuriate the Rangers faithful with a series of bizarre decisions, though the manner in which they were taken apart in the second half was, at times, breathtaking.

Sevilla came into the match having won their previous five games, and looked every inch the much-fancied group favourites in the opening stages, quietening the home crowd with a series of slick passing moves.

It was from one of these moves that Kanoute should have put the visitors ahead on 14 minutes, though he was unable to find the back of the net following a delightful exchange with Jesus Navas, instead seeing his shot blocked from point blank range by keeper Allan McGregor.

Rangers began to find their rhythm 20 minutes in, and a rasping volley from Lee McCulloch that dipped just over the crossbar brought the crowd back to their feet. The Scottish champions then stretched the Sevilla defence with a fine team move themselves, though Steven Whittaker's cross was found wanting after he had been picked out by a clever looped pass from Steven Davis.

A massive penalty shout then went up from just about every Rangers player and supporter in the stadium after Naismith was brought down by Zonko in the area, though Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson waved for play to continue, to the fury of the hosts.

The boos were still ringing round the stadium as Fabiano drove a free-kick into the wall three minutes later, though the anger then turned to appreciation as McGregor pulled off another excellent save to deny Adriano after he had robbed Madjid Bougherra of possession, and Navas blasted the rebound over.

McCulloch then glanced a header over as Rangers began the second-half on the attack, though they then fell behind in more controversial circumstances on 51 minutes.

Julien Escude headed another fine Jerome Rothen cross behind, only for the referee to point for a goal kick, from which Sevilla launched an attack, with Fabiano dancing away from David Weir, before winning a free-kick for a tug on his shirt.

The free-kick was played wide to the unmarked Navas, who had ample time to pick out the equally unmarked Zonko in the centre, and it was infuriating irony for the Rangers fans that it should be he - the man who conceded the penalty that never was in the first half - who planted a firm header past McGregor at the near post.

A quarter of an hour later the visitors doubled their lead with a superb team goal. Fabiano and Navas sliced the Rangers back four open with a swift exchange, and Fabiano's pull-back fell perfectly into the path of the onrushing Adriano, who curled the ball just inside the far post.

The game was effectively ended as a contest on 71 minutes as Kanoute hustled the ball off the Rangers midfield wide on the left, before lofting a pinpoint ball to the far post, where Fabiano rose high above Whittaker to power a header past McGregor.

Three became four moments later as Fabiano returned the favour for his strike partner on the break, laying a simple ball into Kanoute's path for him to slot home.

Novo gave the Rangers fans still in the stadium something to cheer late on, cutting in from the left hand side to blast a swerving shot past Andres Palop and into the far corner, though it was nothing more than a consolation.

The result sees Sevilla top the group on six points, while Rangers slip to bottom, level on a single point with Unirea.

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