Tag: Malik Tillman

It’s official: Rangers had the worst Champions League group stage ever

Six games, two goals scored, 22 conceded, and one big yikes

Rangers returned to the Champions League group stage this year for the first time since the 2010-11 season. It was a huge accomplishment for the Scottish giants, and a boost for USMNT duo Malik Tillman and James Sands.

The club surely knew the group stage would be a major step up from the qualifying rounds, but they could’ve never anticipated the pure carnage that would await them upon reaching the club game’s highest heights.

After losing 3-1 to Ajax on Tuesday, Rangers secured a piece of unwanted history. With six defeats in six games, two goals scored and 22 conceded, Rangers have officially had the worst group stage campaign in Champions League history.

Being drawn against red-hot Napoli and less-hot-but-still-Liverpool Liverpool was always going to be a big ask for Rangers, who lost those four games by a combined score of 15-1.

More curious was the team’s two defeats to Ajax by a combined score of 7-1. Ajax is in first place in the Eredivisie, leading PSV by just one point. To reach the group stage, Rangers defeated PSV 3-2 over two legs in the final qualifying round. Clearly, the transitive property didn’t quite bear out here.

Tillman and Sands each started four of Rangers’ six games and neither had any particularly shining moments. Sands was sent off against Napoli in Rangers’ second match, picking up a second yellow card early in the second half of a 3-0 defeat.

Speaking after Tuesday’s loss to Ajax, Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst sounded like the leader of a team who went into games knowing they were likely to lose.

“I won the competition (as a player with Barcelona) so I know the other side when you’re the team who comes on the pitch and already knows you’re going to win because of the difference,” he said.

It’s hard to escape the feeling that in hindsight, Van Bronckhorst and his players may well wish they’d lost to PSV and parachuted safely into the Europa League, a competition where they’d be unlikely to make the kind of unwanted history they must now carry with them.

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The Americans Abroad Five: Oh boy, here come the injuries

Some key USMNT players are fighting to get fit with three weeks until the World Cup. Nobody panic!

Three weeks ago, this very column celebrated the triumphant return to health of many key U.S. national team players who had been battling injuries.

We are very, very sorry.

It’s not time to panic yet because the injuries are all minor-ish, but some important USMNT players have gone down over the past week. The World Cup kicks off in three weeks, so even a minor problem right now could have an impact in Qatar.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Let’s get to the Five

Malik Tillman makes World Cup statement with solo stunner for Rangers

The 20-year-old scored one of the goals of the season for Americans abroad

Malik Tillman appears to be right on the bubble for the U.S. national team World Cup roster.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter called Tillman out after naming him to his September roster, saying the 20-year-old “needs to do better. He needs to increase his level.”

Tillman didn’t make much of an impact for the U.S. in two September substitute appearances, and has been mostly used as a reserve after returning to Rangers.

That’s why Sunday’s stunning solo goal could be so important for Tillman.

Making his first league start since September 3, Tillman picked the ball up near midfield against Motherwell and proceeded to dribble right through several defenders before clipping a finish over the goalkeeper for the game’s opening goal.

Rangers would go on to win 2-1, picking up three vital points that saw them move to within two points of first-place Celtic in the table.

It was also a crucial confidence-booster after a 7-1 midweek thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League, the fourth group-stage defeat in a row for the Scottish side.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Tillman admitted that his goal would be a major boost to his and his team’s mental state.

“The last few weeks were a bit tough,” Tillman said. “[We] didn’t win in the Champions League and I think it’s an extreme boost for me. We have to keep looking forward and hope we win the next few games as well.”

Watch Tillman’s solo goal vs. Motherwell

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Rangers’ USMNT pair gets good view as Mo Salah scores record-breaking Champions League hat trick

It’s probably for the best that Sands and Tillman didn’t play in this one

Maybe Rangers should have put James Sands and Malik Tillman in?

Liverpool had a very rare sort of comeback win in the Champions League Wednesday, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 7-1 victory thanks in no small part to Mohamed Salah scoring a hat trick in all of six minutes and 12 seconds.

Rangers scored their first group stage goal in the 17th minute to take the lead at Ibrox, and though Roberto Firmino replied seven minutes later, the Scottish club — with both Sands and Tillman on the bench — got into halftime with the scores level.

Unfortunately for Rangers, the referees and Liverpool decided to play the second half rather than simply letting everyone go home early. Firmino struck again in the 55th minute, followed by a goal from Darwin Núñez, as Liverpool looked to be cruising to a win.

However, things were about to get worse for Rangers. Salah hadn’t even entered the game at that point, only entering the fray to replace Núñez after the Uruguayan had finished celebrating his goal.

With the clock reading 74:43, Salah took his first step towards a new Champions League record, stabbing a left-footed shot past Allan McGregor from an acute angle to make it 4-1.

The Egyptian star then added Liverpool’s fifth in the 80th minute, with a sneaky shot that used the scrambling Rangers defense as a screen. 96 seconds later, he had his hat trick, characteristically curling home from the right side of the box as the clock ticked over to 80:55.

Salah broke Bafétimbi Gomis’ 11-year-old record, as the French striker had scored an eight-minute hat trick for Lyon against Dinamo Zagreb back in 2011.

For Rangers, who ended up not putting Sands or Tillman into the match at all, it’s been a rough return to the Champions League. They are one of two teams to have lost all four of their matches, and Viktoria Plzen’s -13 goal difference in Group C is slightly better than the -15 mark Rangers has in Group A.

Watch Salah make Champions League history

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The Americans Abroad Five: Getting healthy at the right time

Knock on wood but … the USMNT’s injury situation is looking quite rosy a month before Qatar

If there’s one thing the September window showed, it’s that the U.S. men’s national team desperately needs a select few players to be healthy.

Shorn of the injured Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah, the USMNT struggled badly in its two friendlies. Clearly the team’s issues went deeper than that trio’s absence, but the Americans’ awful displays would’ve at least been lifted with their presence.

This weekend saw a number of Americans abroad find the net, but no development was more important than the return to the pitch of Musah, Robinson and Weah.

The USMNT seems to be getting healthy at the right time. Knock on wood.

Let’s get to the Five.

Berhalter urges Malik Tillman to ‘pick it up’ for USMNT, Rangers

Berhalter wants more out of the USMNT playmaker

Malik Tillman has started his time with Rangers off with plenty of success, but for U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, the young midfielder should be doing even more.

Speaking with media after announcing his roster for the USMNT’s September friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia, Berhalter said that Tillman—who is one of six midfielders named in the squad for matches to be played in Düsseldorf and Murcia—needs to show more consistency in the biggest games.

“He’s done well, but he needs to do better. He needs to increase his level,” said a blunt Berhalter. “I’m disappointed with his last couple performances against Ajax and Celtic.” Those matches both ended in heavy 4-0 defeats for Rangers, with Tillman substituted in the 59th minute against Celtic and then at halftime against Ajax.

Berhalter: Consistency for Tillman is key

The problem Tillman will run into playing with Rangers is a common one for players who move to either Glaswegian giant over the years: Old Firm clashes and games in Europe are so high-stakes and are played at a very high level, but the competition in the Scottish Premier League outside of those Celtic vs. Rangers battles are a step down.

“He’s got a ton of quality,” added Berhalter, who emphasized that the USMNT coaching staff still thinks highly of the Bayern Munich academy  product. “The conversations I’m having with him (are) that he can help this group, but he needs to pick it up a little…he’s got a huge ceiling.”

That’s not to say Tillman has not produced in some very big games in the first weeks of his time with Rangers. He scored the goal that took them past Union Saint-Gilloise in the penultimate round of Champions League qualifying, and then had the assist on Antonio Colak’s decisive goal against PSV.

Since joining Rangers, Tillman has two goals and one assist, and had started nine of their first 10 games in all competitions. However, after two straight rough losses for Rangers, he was one of five players dropped by Giovanni van Bronckhorst for Wednesday’s Champions League visit to Napoli.

“It’s great to see the start that he had, and now it’s going to be about, in these next bigger games, when he’s in the Champions League, will he do the same type of thing he’s doing in the Scottish league?” asked Berhalter. “That’s going to be interesting to see.”

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USMNT duo Malik Tillman, James Sands help Rangers qualify for Champions League

The U.S. contingent in the Champions League keeps growing

Add James Sands and Malik Tillman to the list of U.S. men’s national team players in this year’s Champions League group stage.

The USMNT duo both played a major role as Rangers defeated PSV 1-0 on Wednesday night, giving them a 3-2 aggregate victory that sends the Scottish side into Thursday’s draw. Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst started Tillman as his No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Sands took up his usual spot at center back as both USMNT players went the full 90 minutes.

Rangers started well, with Tillman creating their best early look only for Tom Lawrence to blaze it wide in the 25th minute. Tillman and Sands were among the best players on the field for either team, with Rangers’ attacks nearly always involving the former Bayern Munich academy product. At the other end, Sands and the Glaswegian club’s defense gave up little, frustrating the crowd in Eindhoven and keeping the game manageable for Rangers.

Tillman also ended up with the assist on the goal that took them through, pouncing on a massive mistake on the hour mark as Rangers scored the game’s only goal. PSV goalkeeper Walter Benítez passed to André Ramalho, who Tillman pressured immediately. Tillman won the ball cleanly, drew Benítez, and squared for Antonio Colak to tap into an empty net.

It was the second decisive moment for Tillman in this Champions League qualifying campaign. His first goal at the club completed a remarkable comeback in the previous round, as they overturned a two-goal deficit to advance past Union Saint-Gilloise. That moment was instantly lionized on the blue side of Glasgow, with fans doing a “Tillman Header Challenge” outside of Ibrox.

From there, though, the game came down to Rangers doing wonderful work in killing the game off effectively, with PSV never having much of a look of note. Sands played a prominent role at center back, coming through numerous aeriel duels as PSV grew more desperate.

The win sees Rangers back into the group stage for the first time since the 2010-11 edition. Tillman and Sands will join a large group of USMNT-eligible players in the group stage, with Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Dortmund), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona, at least for the time being),  Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Owen Otasowie (Club Brugge), Timothy Chandler (Eintract Frankfurt), and Josh Cohen (Maccabi Haifa).

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The Americans Abroad Five: Tillman already a Rangers folk hero, Dest on his way out

A star has been born in Scotland, while some other USMNT players were less fortunate last week

Welcome back to the Americans Abroad Five!

This week we lead on the rise of Malik Tillman in Scotland. The USMNT forward would have hoped to settle well after his loan from Bayern Munich but without much senior action on his resume, there were plenty of question marks. But Tillman has passed his early tests with flying colors.

Elsewhere there were some unfortunate injuries to Americans in Europe, with the hard-luck duo of Richy Ledezma and Daryl Dike the headliners.

Let’s get to the Five.

The ‘Tillman Header Challenge’ is now a thing at Rangers

Another reminder that pro athletes are not like the rest of us

Malik Tillman’s dramatic game-winning header in the Champions League this week has already become part of Rangers folklore.

For evidence, look no further than the club’s “Tillman Header Challenge,” which was set up for fans to try outside of Ibrox prior to Saturday’s match against St. Johnstone.

Tillman rose up above Union SG goalkeeper Anthony Moris to head home the winner for Rangers on Tuesday, giving the Scottish side a dramatic 3-2 win that sent them through to the final round of Champions League qualifying.

Rangers set up a cardboard cutout of Tillman and a ball at the exact height of the U.S. national team attacker’s leap, giving Rangers fans the chance to try to match their player’s feat.

The result, for most fans, was more evidence that professional athletes are not like the rest of us.

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Malik Tillman sends Rangers through to final round of Champions League qualifying

Tillman’s first Rangers goal was huge

Malik Tillman’s first Rangers goal ended up being a big one, as the U.S. men’s national team prospect sent his new club through to the final round of Champions League qualifying.

Tillman and Rangers—who started two USMNT players, with Tillman joined by James Sands—had a mountain to climb after losing their first leg at Belgium’s Union-Saint Gilloise 2-0.

However, back at Ibrox Stadium, they mounted a stunning comeback. James Tavernier converted a penalty just before halftime to give them hope, and Antonio Čolak’s 58th minute goal levelled the scores.

That set the stage for Tillman. Rangers recycled a set piece before Borna Barišić crossed in a prayer high to the back post. Tillman managed to leap higher than Union SG goalkeeper Anthony Moris to nod the ball into an empty net, setting off wild celebrations in the stands as Rangers took a 3-0 lead on the night, and a 3-2 edge on aggregate.

Rangers held on from there to pull off the unlikely victory. Tillman played the full 90 minutes for Rangers, while Sands played 79 at center back.

The Glaswegian giants face one more round to get into the group stage, and it’s going to be tough. They’ll either play PSV or Monaco, who were in extra time as Rangers celebrated their win. The first leg will be August 16 or 17, with the second leg a week later.

If Rangers qualify, it will be their first trip to the Champions League proper since 2010-11.

Watch Tillman send Rangers through

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