Maurizio Sarri says Olivier Giroud is “very important” to Chelsea after the forward’s first goal since May put the Blues into the last 32 of the Europa League.

The France international, who had not scored under Sarri, headed in Emerson’s cross at the near post early in the second period to maintain the Blues’ 100% Group L record.

“I’m pleased for him,” Sarri said. “I know strikers want to score. And so for his confidence, I think it’s very important.

“I don’t want him to be worried about scoring, because for us he’s very important, a very, very useful player for the team.”

Chelsea are now six points clear of Hungarian side MOL Vidi, who moved up to second in the group with a win over PAOK Salonika.

Despite the chilly conditions in Belarus, a white-hot atmosphere had greeted Sarri’s side at a tightly-packed Borisov Arena.

And it was the hosts, who had confirmed their 13th consecutive Belarusian league title on Sunday, who initially went on the offensive.

During a 60-second period, Bate twice carved out opportunities with Dmitri Baga’s rasping drive hitting the post and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga athletically saving Stanislav Dragun’s header from a corner.

But as Chelsea grew more assured, the hosts retreated, and Giroud finally registered his goal.

That prompted a strong response from Bate who created a glut of chances to level.

But Nikolai Signevich struck the left post, Aleksey Rios blazed over and Baga again hit the post from close range as the Blues held on to win.

Giroud off the mark

Despite France’s exploits in winning the World Cup in Russia in the summer, it was hardly a vintage tournament for Giroud who ended it without registering a single shot on target in 546 minutes of action.

And the prospects of an early-season pick-me-up were hardly assisted by his late return to training six days before the Premier League campaign started.

As a consequence, the 32-year-old has struggled for sharpness and to integrate into a style of play that is evolving under Sarri.

However, in his 12th match of the campaign and 794 minutes from his last goal in Chelsea colours, against Liverpool on 6 May, Giroud made a decisive contribution.

Tellingly, the 6ft 3in forward delivered it with a textbook downward header from Emerson’s pinpoint left-wing cross to underline the value his aerial prowess offers in tight games.

Hazard toils on return

While Sarri made seven alterations to the Chelsea team that defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 on Sunday, Eden Hazard was his most notable inclusion.

The Belgium international had missed three matches with a back problem before being introduced from the bench against Palace.

And this appeared the perfect opportunity for Sarri to give Hazard a match-sharpening run-out ahead of their weekend fixture against Everton.

The 27-year-old, making his first start in the competition, was given just over an hour and, in truth, struggled, perhaps justifying Sarri’s desire to put more minutes into his legs.

Though Chelsea enjoyed almost 74% of possession, Hazard was largely anonymous, making 46 passes and touching the ball 65 times before he was withdrawn.

Man of the match – Ross Barkley (Chelsea)

‘One more point needed’ – what they said

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri: “I think the first target in this competition was to qualify and now the second target is to win our group, so I think we need one more point [to top the group].

“It’s very important because then we can talk again about this competition in February, when we will have another target.”

‘Sarri’s group stage pedigree’ – the stats

• Bate have lost on each of the three occasions they have hosted an English side in Europe (also 1-2 vs Everton in Oct 2009 and 2-4 vs Arsenal in Sep 2017).
• Chelsea have won four consecutive games in European competition for the first time since April 2012, when they went on to win the Champions League.
• Sarri has won all 10 of his Europa League group-stage games as a manager, with his sides scoring 28 goals while conceding just four in return.
• Three Englishmen started for Chelsea against Bate (Ross Barkley, Gary Cahill, Ruben Loftus-Cheek), the most for the Blues in European competition since April 2014 vs Atletico Madrid (Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, John Terry).
• Giroud scored his first goal for Chelsea since netting against Liverpool in May – he had gone 14 games, 793 minutes and 24 shots without scoring.

What’s next?

Chelsea return to domestic action on Sunday 11 November when they host Everton in the Premier League (14:15 GMT). The Blues host PAOK Salonika in their next Europa League fixture on Thursday 29 November (20:00 GMT).

Bate Borisov travel to Shakhtyor in the Belarusian league on Wednesday 21 November (15:00 GMT). They return to Europa League action on Thursday 29 November when they host MOL Vidi (17:55 GMT)

The Trump administration took a major step on Thursday to restrict asylum claims, putting forward a regulation that would make individuals ineligible for asylum if they cross the US southern border between official ports of entry.

Once the plan goes into full effect, which is expected to happen in coming days, migrants entering at the US southern border would only be eligible for asylum if they come to official ports of entry.

“What we are attempting to do is trying to funnel … asylum claims through the ports of entry where we are better resourced, have better capabilities and better manpower and staffing to actually handle those claims in an expeditious and efficient manner,” a senior administration official told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday, on condition of anonymity.

The plan is President Donald Trump’s administration’s latest move to limit the eligibility of individuals for asylum in the United States.

The regulation would largely affect migrants from Central America’s Northern Triangle – Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – who cross the US border with Mexico to flee violence, including political persecution, and poverty in their home countries. 

“The vast majority of aliens who enter illegally today come from the Northern Triangle countries, and large portions of those aliens assert a credible fear,” the regulation’s text says. “Channeling those aliens to ports of entry would encourage these aliens to first avail themselves of offers of asylum from Mexico.”

Immigrant advocates quickly denounced the administration’s move.

“US law specifically allows individuals to apply for asylum whether or not they are at a port of entry,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “It is illegal to circumvent that by agency or presidential decree.”

Caravan plans on going to official port

The move comes less than 48 hours after the midterm election in which Republicans maintained their hold on the Senate, but lost control of the House to the Democrats. 

During the election, Trump put immigration at the top of voters’ minds, seeking to sow fear over a caravan of Central American migrants and asylum seekers.

Last week, he said he would be taking steps to limit asylum claims. His administration also deployed thousands of troops to the border, and said he massive tent cities are being erected to house asylum seekers until there is a decision on their application. 

The initial wave of the caravan left Honduras a month ago, and thousands more have followed and are currently trekking north.

The US president railed against the caravan in the lead up to the election, telling the refugees and migrants they would not be welcomed in the United States.

The caravan has remained undeterred, and participants have told Al Jazeera they plan on applying for asylum at an official port of entry.

After Trump’s announcement about the new proposals last week, a group of caravan participants filed a lawsuit against the administration on the behalf of minors. 

The suit claims Trump “continues to abuse the law, including constitutional rights, to deter Central Americans from exercising their lawful right to seek asylum in the United States”. 

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies

Hosts West Indies will begin the defence of their Women’s World Twenty20 title on Friday when they face outsiders Bangladesh in Guyana.

Earlier at the same venue, New Zealand meet India (15:00 GMT), while also in Group B, three-time tournament winners Australia take on Pakistan (20:00).

The triple-header concludes with the Windies’ game at midnight UK time.

England, looking to add the T20 title to last year’s World Cup success, play Sri Lanka in St Lucia on Saturday.

However, there remains a doubt over the participation of pace spearhead Katherine Brunt, who hobbled off during their final warm-up game because of a recurring back problem.

Ireland have a tough start to their campaign when they meet Australia in Guyana on Sunday.

It is the sixth edition of the Women’s World T20 – but the first to be played as a standalone event rather than in parallel with the men’s tournament.

Washington, DC– Thousands protested across the United States on Thursday to demand that President Donald Trump not impede Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 

The protests come a day after Trump effectively fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a move many see as clearing the way for Trump to go after Mueller.

The president’s decision to replace Sessions with an even more devoted loyalist, Matthew Whitaker, in an acting capacity has drawn outrage from critics, including senior Democrats, who won control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterms.

Sessions recused himself from overseeing a probe in March 2017, shortly after taking office.

The former Republican senator was active in the Trump campaign and had met twice with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Responsibility for the probe was then passed to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, a former FBI director.

Trump saw the move as a betrayal and frequently and publicly criticised Sessions for making the decision to recuse himself. 

Mueller’s probe has since reached plea deals with or indicted a number of Trump associates. They include his former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

We’re on the march now – Times Square to Union Square. #ProtectMueller pic.twitter.com/UAlYShxZhW

— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) November 8, 2018

According to US media reports on Thursday, Mueller’s team have started writing the final report of the investigation.

Sessions’s interim replacement, his former chief of staff, Whitaker, has publicly criticised the Mueller probe for going beyond its remit. That has convinced many opponents of Trump that the president has Mueller in his crosshairs.

In theory, Whitaker could order Mueller to limit the scope of his investigation or end it altogether.

‘Disrespect for norms’

At a protest in support of Mueller outside the White House, a crowd of several hundred protesters shouted anti-Trump slogans.

Jerry Role, a retired Department of Justice staffer told Al Jazeera that Trump’s actions this week threatened the integrity of US democracy.

“There’s a disrespect for norms, a disrespect for the rule of law, and a disrespect for the conventions of society and politics,” he said, adding that politicians needed to “rise above party” to confront Trump.

With control of the lower house of Congress, the Democrats have the power to order their own investigation into Trump’s dealings with the Russians and other foreign governments.

Senior party officials have so far shied away from directly proposing the idea but have emphatically condemned the decision to fire Sessions and appoint Whitaker.

Both Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and the expected House majority leader, Nancy Pelosi, want Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation.

“Clearly, the President has something to hide,” Schumer wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, later adding: “Mr Whitaker should recuse himself from (the probe’s) oversight for the duration of his time as acting attorney general.”

Some senior Republicans, such as former presidential candidate and Utah Senator-elect Mitt Romney, have urged Whitaker to allow the Mueller investigation to run unimpeded.

According to the Washington Post, Whitaker has no intention of recusing himself, putting the two sides on collision course should the acting attorney general interfere with the Mueller probe.

I want to thank Jeff Sessions for his service to our country as Attorney General. Under Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, it is imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) November 7, 2018

Possible Democrat response

Professor Scott Lucas of the University of Birmingham described the situation as “unprecedented” but said the Democrats would likely have a plan in place should Trump make a move on Mueller through the acting attorney general or a future appointment.

“The (Democrats’) first step would be to protect the investigation , they would do that by making sure all documents were secured by ensuring Mueller’s investigative team was not broken up,” he said, adding: “On Capitol Hill, the Democrats are quite likely to call for a floor vote immediately to countermand and reverse the firing.

Lucas further explained that while the Democrats will have a majority in the House, they will remain a minority in the upper house of Congress, the Senate, and would likely have to convince at least some Republicans to join them.

Portland Maine signing in #NoOneIsAboveTheLaw #RESIST pic.twitter.com/VJHCcpyaf0

— Catherynne Valente (@catvalente) November 8, 2018

In Washington, DC, protesters called on Democrat and Republican legislators to put partisan divisions aside to avoid the possibility of a constitutional crisis.

David Bosel, a retired political scientist, described Trump’s attempts to scupper the Mueller investigation as “dictatorial” and accused most Republicans in Congress of helping Trump tilt the US towards “fascism”.

Nevertheless he appealed to Republicans not “beholden” to Donald Trump to reign in any attempt to fire Mueller.

“Obey your conscience, do what is right, do what is constitutional,” he said, adding: “This administration believes it is above the law and it is willing to go against the constitution.”

England head coach Eddie Jones believes “warrior” co-captain Owen Farrell does not get the same protection from referees as other fly-halves.

Farrell picked up a hip injury in Saturday’s win over South Africa but is fit to play New Zealand this weekend.

Jones suggested the 27-year-old is treated differently because he plays through pain, while hits on Ireland’s Johnny Sexton are blown up.

“If he was Sexton then we’d be able to complain about him,” Jones said.

“But because he’s Owen Farrell he’s allowed to be hit late. He’s tough so he gets up and he plays.

“He’s a tough rooster, a warrior. He takes the ball to the line, he puts his body on the line, he doesn’t play in a dinner suit.”

Farrell’s physical approach has been questioned following his controversial injury-time tackle on the Springboks’ Andre Esterhuizen last weekend, for which he avoided any disciplinary action.

The Saracens fly-half has taken part in tailored fitness sessions this week but will face the All Blacks at Twickenham.

“We manage him every week. Players like him are never 100% right. They get on the field, they play and they give you everything they’ve got and he’s like that,” Jones added.

“He wants to play every week. If we are playing marbles on a Wednesday, he wants to play. He’s a competitor. You can’t put blokes like him in cotton wool.”

Puebla, Mexico – Edgar Rodolfo Xon Ajanel called his mother just before he was set to cross the border from Mexico into the United States more than 10 years ago.

The call came from Matamoros, just south of the border from Brownsville, Texas, on July 22, 2008.

“He said he was minutes away from crossing,” Sofia Sebastiana Xon, one of Edgar’s younger sisters, told Al Jazeera.

“That was his last call.”

Xon was only nine years old when her brother left the family home in Chichicastenango, a mostly Indigenous Maya Kiche town in the Quiche department in Guatemala. Edgar, then 22, wanted to find work in the US to support his five younger sisters and their mother.

Before leaving, Edgar worked as a street vendor in Chichicastenango and all over Quiche. But sometime after his father abandoned the family, he became the sole breadwinner and his earnings were not enough to feed the family.

Edgar paid a smuggler to take him over the border but they never found out whether or not he made it into the US, Xon said, speaking softly while fidgeting with the large laminated photograph of her brother she wore around her neck.

The photo was one of many worn by family members in Puebla this week as part of an annual caravan of Central American Mothers of Disappeared Migrants. 

Tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have disappeared while travelling north through Mexico to the border with the US, according to human rights and migrant support groups.

Many Central American migrants simply lose contact with their families along their northbound journey, but others are believed to have died either at the hands of organised crime groups or security forces or from dehydration or exposure to the elements, among other conditions.

In most cases, families of the disappeared never find out what happened.

Every year since 2004, Central American mothers and other relatives spend two weeks travelling thousands of kilometres in Mexico to search for their loved ones, raising awareness, and speaking out for radical changes in border and immigration policies. 

This year was Xon’s second time participating in the mothers’ caravan.

She stepped off the group’s bus in Puebla to cheers, drumming and applause from members of dozens of local activist collectives, migrant support groups, feminist and student associations, and others who arrived at a city market to hear from the women from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua searching for their loved ones.

The caravan is organised by the Mesoamerican Migrant Movement, a grassroots network coordinated in Mexico but with ties throughout Central America.

Much of the network’s work is focused on attempting to locate migrants and refugees who have disappeared in Mexico and reunite them with their families. Sometimes they succeed. But often, they do not. 

The movement also coordinates Puentes de Esperanza (Bridges of Hope), a project in which Mesoamerican Migrant Movement members travel the migrant trail in Mexico, find Central American migrants who have lost contact with their families, and then attempt to track down the relatives in Central America.

This year’s caravan participants met mothers of disappeared migrants from Mauritania, Senegal, Morocco and other countries, forming global network.

Ruben Figueroa, the movement’s coordinator for Central America and southeastern Mexico, called the meeting significant, adding that the group issued a declaration, which stated that the “process of forced displacement all over the world has obligated people to leave their place of origin, their country, and their loved ones behind”.

‘Just want to cry’

The mothers of disappeared migrants from the Americas, Africa and Europe urged governments worldwide to respect international law with regard to asylum, refugees and the treatment of migrants. 

“Nothing can stop a mother who is searching for her son or daughter. Mothers will bring down all the barriers and cover all the kilometres they need to until they arrive at the truth,” the mothers noted in the declaration.

Siblings often do the same. Like Xon, Marcela Melchor has been searching for her sister for a decade. Her sister Izabel Melchor Ramos called home to wish their mother a Happy Mother’s Day in May 2008. It was her last call.

“She always communicated by phone, but from public phones in Mexico,” Melchor told Al Jazeera.

The Indigenous Maya Kiche sisters are from Ixcan, in the northern reaches of the Quiche department of Guatemala.

A single mother, Izabel first left home to work in a garment factory near Guatemala City to support her three children, but it became unsafe.

“There is a lot of crime. When she would leave work, she was followed and hassled,” said Melchor, wearing her sister’s photograph at the mothers caravan event Tuesday in Puebla.

Izabel came home and then set out in January 2008 for Mexico to search for a job. She worked at a restaurant in Cancun for a while, but her last call home in May of that year was from the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.

At the time, Izabel’s three daughters were eight, 10 and 12 years old. She left them in her sister’s care.

“They call me mama tia [mom-aunt]. I raised them,” said Melchor. 

The entire family continues to search for Izabel. They found help from local associations in Ixcan, then from a Guatemala City organisation, and then from the Mesoamerican Migrant Movement.

Melchor feels good to be with other women in similar positions on the mothers caravan, but focusing on so many stories and cases of disappeared migrants while covering more than 5,000km from home to and around Mexico and back is hard, she said.

“Sometimes there are moments of smiles, but sometimes you just want to cry,” said Melchor.

‘Looking to survive’

This year the mothers caravan overlapped with the ongoing exodus of thousands Central American migrants and refugees, in large groups also called caravans, heading north through Mexico to the US. Aware of the stories of violence and disappearances, the migrants and refugees are sticking together for safety in numbers.

An initial wave of more than 1,000 Hondurans left their country last month, mainly fleeing violence, repression, poverty and unemployment. The group quickly grew to more than 5,000 people,

Thousands of Central Americans, mainly Hondurans and Salvadorans, have left in subsequent caravans and are heading north behind the first group, which is currently in Mexico City. An estimated 12,000 Central Americans are making the trek north en masse in large, visible groups.

The caravan of Central American relatives of disappeared migrants first met up with the first group of thousands of migrants and refugees in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico at the outset of the mothers caravan.

If anyone has heard of my brother, if anyone knows him. Please tell us.

 Sofia Sebastiana Xon, sister of missing migrant, Edgar Rodolfo Xon Ajanel

Both Melchor and Xon told Al Jazeera they felt sadness when they witnessed the size and conditions of the group and heard some of the individual stories of participants. For Xon, it reminded her of her brother Edgar and why he left a decade ago.

“They’re looking for a way to survive,” said Xon, noting the insecurity and violence in many Central American countries.

Asked if she wanted to add anything before the mothers caravan took off from Puebla to its next stop in Oaxaca on the way home to Central America, Xon began reeling off the basic details that could help identify her brother.

It was clear she has had practice reciting the litany of information.

Edgar is 1.62 metres tall. He was 22 when he went missing, so would now be 32. His last known location was Matamoros. He has birthmarks on his nose and cheek, both on the left side, Xon continued.

“If anyone has heard of my brother, if anyone knows him,” she pleaded. “Please tell us.”

Arsenal qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League after a match marred by forward Danny Welbeck suffering what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.

The Gunners were held to a goalless draw by Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon at Emirates Stadium to join Chelsea in the next phase.

Sporting ended the game with 10 men when ex-Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu was shown a straight red card after fouling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he was clean through on goal – although the hosts could not find a winner.

But the fixture was overshadowed by the injury to England international Welbeck, who was carried off on a stretcher.

The 27-year-old was hurt in the 25th minute when he jumped for a header and landed badly on his right ankle.

He received oxygen and had his leg in a protective brace as he was taken off the pitch, with up to 10 medical staff around him as he received treatment.

Some of his team-mates were also visibly affected by the incident.

Welbeck has scored five goals this season, played for England against Spain in September and had been named in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad for the friendly with the United States and the Nations League match against Croatia.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, working as a pundit for BT Sport, said: “Danny has had two major injuries to his knee and he tried to plant his foot and got it stuck behind him.

“He is a great player and good for that group as he is 27, one of the older players. He will be a big loss for them. It looks like he will be out for a while.”

Gunners extend unbeaten run

Arsenal, who are fifth in the Premier League and now unbeaten in 15 games, have 10 points from their opening four Europa League games.

A 1-0 win for Azerbaijani side Qarabag over Vorskla Poltava of Ukraine in the other Group E match was enough to take the Gunners through to the knockout phase.

Unai Emery’s side are three points clear of Sporting Lisbon in second and will win the group with victory at Vorskla Poltava on Thursday, 29 November.

After winning their opening three Europa League games, Emery was able to make nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Liverpool on Saturday. Only Rob Holding and Henrikh Mkhitaryan kept their places, with Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin left out completely.

Top scorer Aubameyang started on the bench but came on as a first-half substitute for Welbeck.

Aubameyang hit the bar early in the second half and later saw his goal-bound shot blocked by former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates.

Mathieu was dismissed in the 87th minute for fouling the Gabon striker, who fired the resulting free-kick over the bar.

There was another injury problem for the Gunners in the second half as right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem on a mixed day for the club.

A rare off night in front of goal – stats

• Arsenal failed to score for just the second time under Emery – they also drew a blank against Manchester City in the Spaniard’s first game in charge (0-2).
• Sporting failed to have a shot on target in both matches against the Gunners this season.
• Excluding qualifiers, Arsenal have kept three consecutive clean sheets in European competition for the first time since the 2007-08 Champions League group stages.
• Sporting kept their first away clean sheet in the Europa League since September 2011 (2-0 vs FC Zurich), ending a run of 18 games in which they had conceded.
• Aubameyang had twice as many shots as any other Arsenal player (four), but none were on target.

What’s next?

Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday when they entertain Wolves (16:30 GMT kick-off).

The Gunners are next in Europa League action on 29 November, away at Vorskla Poltava (17:55), with Sporting travelling to play Qarabag at the same time.

More to follow.

Two goals in a minute gave Spartak Moscow a thrilling win that ended Rangers’ 11-game unbeaten run in the Europa League this season.

Rangers had taken the lead three times in the first half through Roman Eremenko’s own goal and fine strikes by Daniel Candeias and Glenn Middleton.

But they were pegged back by Lorenzo Melgarejo, a Connor Goldson own goal and, after the break, by Luis Adriano.

And Sofiane Hanni’s drive deflected off Goldson to give the home side victory.

Steven Gerrard’s side were left to rue an offside flag that denied Rangers a 4-2 lead, with TV replays suggesting Alfredo Morelos was onside, and a last-minute James Tavernier effort off a post.

It means that the Russians, who drew 0-0 at Ibrox last month but whose poor domestic form has continued under caretaker boss Raul Riancho, leapfrog Rangers into second place in Group G thanks to a better head-to-head record.

Villarreal, who drew 0-0 at Rapid Vienna, now lead the section by a point – but only two points separate all four sides with two fixtures remaining.

Sides meet in Moscow bearing gifts

Rangers’ terrific away form in Europe has been built on a solid defence – just three goals conceded in the five games on the road before Thursday.

However, the art of defending appeared to have been abandoned by both teams as they crossed the white line.

Spartak had limited Rangers to very few opportunities in the goalless draw at Ibrox but gave an early indication they would be more generous as Eremenko turned Middleton’s corner into his own net.

Riancho had made it clear pre-match that only a win would do for his side and they quickly began to show their offensive abilities far exceeded their defensive ones.

Indeed, their centre-back and captain, Salvatore Bocchetti, twice went close before Melgarejo drew the home side level with a diving header from a mesmerising Ivelin Popov cross.

Spartak’s defensive frailties were again laid bare as Jon Flanagan sent a ball through the middle and Candeias, with no defenders in sight, pirouetted before slotting past goalkeeper Aleksandr Maksimenko.

Again, though, Rangers could not hold the lead. Flanagan let Nikolai Rasskazov run off him to latch on to Popov’s slide-rule pass and, when the cross came in, Goldson sliced it wildly with his right foot past the bemused Allan McGregor.

Spartak had not finished supplying their own gifts and Morelos was able to squeeze the ball through to Middleton to hammer past the goalkeeper for a half-time lead that could have been more emphatic had the Colombian not had a strike ruled out for offside.

McGregor was immense once more for Rangers – and he had to be given what was going on in front of him.

He saved well from Hanni twice but could do nothing after the rebound from the midfielder’s second effort was headed in by Adriano.

Worse quickly followed as Hanni picked up possession from the restart and fired in a shot that took a wicked deflection off Goldson and looped over McGregor.

Rangers did not trouble the shaky Spartak rearguard until the final seconds when Tavernier hit a post, but the Russians could have been further ahead by that point as Bocchetti hit the bar with a header and forced another great save from McGregor on the rebound, while Goldson appeared to have capped a nightmare performance by conceding a penalty that was not given.

Rotation turns group table on head – analysis

This was a sore one for Gerrard to take. The Glasgow side’s manager will surely be furious at taking nothing from a match they led on three occasions.

This is a blow to Rangers’ hopes of qualifying but far from the death knell.

Both of their remaining matches – at home to Villarreal and away at Rapid Vienna – are winnable, but only if Rangers can vastly improve defensively.

Gerrard again tinkered with his central defence for this match – replacing Joe Worrall with Nikola Katic. Although the Croat had formed a solid-looking partnership at the start of the season, he and Goldson looked vulnerable all evening.

Few successful sides are built upon a rotation policy in such an important area of the field.

This was one that got away for Rangers and it is a harsh lesson that must be learned quickly.

Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson has overcome some “incredible setbacks” on his way to becoming Gareth Southgate’s latest recruit.

The 26-year-old has been rewarded with his first call-up to the senior England squad after an excellent start to the Premier League season – but international football is a far cry from Wilson’s challenging childhood.

“I was in foster care for a bit when I was younger,” said Wilson in an interview with Football Focus in October.

The situation at home and “erratic” form as a teenager nearly saw him leave the game on two occasions.

BBC Sport looks at the striker’s journey from playing in local cages to England international.

‘He couldn’t get a lift to the academy’

Wilson’s first taste of a professional set-up came as a schoolboy on the books of hometown club Coventry City.

The young striker’s pace and power were evident from a young age, but his domestic setting was already threatening to derail a career that had not yet begun.

“Callum was in and out of the academy,” said Coventry City academy manager Rich Stevens.

“After coming in as a 12-year-old, he then left because he couldn’t get a lift to the academy.”

Although he had been released from the Sky Blues’ youth system, Wilson’s development continued on the streets, away from the sheltered environment and immaculate facilities at the Alan Higgs Centre.

“He went out of the programme and played with his mates, who are older than him, in the local cages and on the streets,” added Stevens.

“Callum was reintroduced to the academy at 15, which is when I first met him. He was driven, hungry and very athletic.

“He scored goals, but there were also lots of injuries through his youth and he had big ankle and shoulder issues.”

‘He wasn’t a player the club were looking at for the future’

Wilson progressed through the youth ranks at City, before spending time on loan in the non-league.

However, injury concerns and inconsistent performances meant the striker was set to be released for a second time at Coventry.

Former Sky Blues manager Steven Pressley said: “When I first arrived at Coventry, Callum’s contract was due to expire at the end of that season and he was training with the development squad rather than the first team.

“He wasn’t a player the club were looking at in terms of the future.

“After my first session in charge of the senior side, I went to watch the development squad train and Callum was one of two players who stood out.

“Sometimes it is just a matter of luck, and a matter of timing, as he could have had a poor training session that day.”

Despite an “erratic” pre-season, Pressley took a leap of faith in the youngster and opted to start the academy product alongside Leon Clarke.

Wilson, buoyed by the manger’s confidence in his ability, never looked back.

“We got him fitter and sharper than he had ever been,” added Pressley. “He had incredible pace and power which was always going to disturb opposition defenders at any level.

“It wasn’t a smooth pathway for Callum and he had some incredible setbacks including several serious injuries, but he is very determined and he is a brilliant lad that I cannot speak of highly enough.

“He always trained with good energy, he was very popular in the changing room and he truly deserves everything that is coming his way.”

Can he make an impression for England?

England enjoyed their best finish a World Cup in 28 years during the summer, as captain Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for finishing the tournament with six goals.

The Spurs striker is expected to lead the line for Southgate’s side for the foreseeable future, but Wilson’s pace and direct running could provide an alternative option, or even support alongside Kane should the formation allow.

Wilson, who joined Bournemouth in 2014, suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries in both knees during a 16-month spell with the Cherries, but he appears to be growing in confidence each week.

He has scored six goals in the league so far this season, as many as Kane, and he has been involved in more goals than any other Englishman in the top flight, adding four assists to his goal tally.

“Callum is developing all the time under a very good coach in Eddie Howe, and the system at Bournemouth suits him,” said Pressley.

“A Kane/Wilson partnership would go against what England are trying to do, but I think they could be suited to play together.

“Callum likes to stretch defences by running in behind and Kane links play very well.”

I thought Keaton Jennings’ 146 not out was a really outstanding innings.

It was a proper innings, showing every ounce of character and temperament that he clearly has.

I think the person who will gain the second most satisfaction from the innings, after Jennings himself, will be Alastair Cook.

It was the sort of innings Cook would have played under the circumstances, before his retirement.

He was patient, very disciplined and he showed all the concentration and hard work that Cook would have put into it.

All that was different was all of the reverse sweeps. You wouldn’t have seen those from Alastair Cook.

He had a slice of luck. Sri Lanka should have reviewed an lbw when he was on 58 – Sri Lanka have to sort out what they are doing there as they are all over the place with their reviews – but you need some luck batting in these conditions and I think Jennings had earned it.

There will be conversations I am sure about Jennings’ technique against fast bowling in English conditions, but we have seen twice now, both here and in his debut hundred in Mumbai, that he has the application and the measured approach which is needed to succeed here in the subcontinent.

What I liked about how he played – and Ben Stokes’ innings of 62 – is how they both allowed the ball come to them.

If the ball spun past the bat then it didn’t bother them. They shrugged their shoulders and faced the next ball. That is what you have to do.

That said, I do not know what Rory Burns was doing for his dismissal.

I feared for the opener against off-spinner Dilruwan Perera anyway because he kept playing flicky shots to mid-wicket which I thought were dangerous, but then to run yourself out – what was that all about?

All England had to do today was to set their stall out to bat all day and score 200. It is hard to explain why you would run yourself out in that situation. I am sure he will be very disappointed.

He has had a tricky Test debut. It was not his fault he was caught down the leg side in the first innings but that was crazy really in the second innings.

And Moeen Ali? I don’t know what to say about his shot.

I can only think Moeen isn’t backing his own defence at the moment.

To be caught at mid-on for three, off your 11th ball, when batting number three, it is really disappointing and again utterly pointless.

England were always ahead of the game but that put a bit more pressure on Jennings, which is why he should be so proud of that innings today.

I now fully expect England to go on and win the game from here. It should just be about how quickly they do it.

I will be interested to see which of England spinners stand up and do it.

It is great opportunity for Moeen, Jack Leach and Adil Rashid but there is always expectation on you when the captain throws you the ball in conditions that suit you.

We have seen Moeen struggle with that expectation in past and Leach found it tricky on his debut on a turning pitch in Christchurch.

Leach has the advantage that at Somerset he is used to bowling on pitches that suit him and is used to bowling teams out.

I would like to see him stand up tomorrow [Friday] and grab his opportunity.

We have seen Jennings grab his chance in this Test, and Ben Foakes too with his century in the first innings.

There is still time for Leach to put his hand up tomorrow and say ‘I am your front line spinner’.

It is a great opportunity someone to win a Test match for England in Galle, of all places, and that would have been unthinkable a few days ago.

Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport’s Matthew Henry.