U.S. news

Reyna shows well in Glasgow Rangers debut.

(Monday, April 19, 1999) -- United States midfielder Claudio Reyna showed well in his Scottish league debut for Glasgow Rangers. He started and played 80 minutes before tiring and being removed for a substitute.

Rangers, however, continued their recent negative streak only earning a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Dundee in the away encounter. Rangers have now only won one of their last four league matches. Their lead at the top of the Scottish League table, which was 13 points only seven weeks ago, has now been reduced to just four points.

Rangers manager Dick tried to shake up the side by starting Reyna in an attacking midfield position, and Jonatan Johansson up front in place of normal striker Stephane Guivarc’h.

A number of commentators called Reyna one of the more effective Rangers players. As one put it, "He battled hard, was committed, made some nice passes, and took a few decent shots."

Reyna, had not played a match in more than three weeks, with his transfer and then the birth, last weekend, of his son. He seemed to tire in the second half and was booked for a foul in the 80th minute. Almost immediately, Advocaat sent on Derek McInnes to replace him.

After the match, a clearly distressed Advocaat had little good to say about his side with the exception of Reyna. "He made a lively first start and will do well for us."

Robert Wagman wrote a nationally syndicated political column for Scripps-Howard for many years. At the same time he has covered soccer in North America for British and South African newspapers since the days of the North American Soccer League. His "Football In America" column now appears regularly in British newspapers. He can be e-mailed at soccerwag1@aol.com.