AMSTERDAM – Rangers loan catch Gedion Zelalem said hello to the club by notching a pair of assists in a 5-0 Scottish League Cup rout of home side Airdrieonians on Wednesday night.
The US Under-20 phenom was already drawing Twitter raves from Glasgow fans and media personalities by the time the quarter-hour struck. On 14 minutes, Zelalam picked a pocket to release the set-up man on the second Rangers goal.
Mere seconds later, Zelalem's diagonal ball led Martin Waghorn into the area on the right, and the winger evaded his defender to fire home the away side's third. The youngster capped his debut for the club by notching an easy assist on James Tavernier's fine solo effort in 89th minute.
By appearing in his first competitive match for Rangers, Zelalem became the sixth American to wear the Light Blues shirt. He follows in the boot-steps of DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Claudio Reyna.
The Ibrox crew will learn their third round assignment in Thursday's draw. Rangers are in the underdog second pot.
Meanwhile, in nearby England, Tim Howard watched on as Everton scored a 5-3 overtime win at Barnsley to set up a third round Capital One Cup tilt away to Daniel Williams and Reading next month.
