Nico Raskin on Thursday headed the opening goal and Vaclav Cerny slotted a second as Rangers raised their game to beat Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 in Glasgow and go straight through to the UEFA Europa League last 16.
Belgian midfielder Raskin’s first goal of the season broke the ice in the 20th minute at Ibrox and Cerny calmly doubled the tally in the 55th minute as Rangers moved from 13th to eighth on goal-difference.
The visitors, who pulled a goal back through Kevin Mac Allister in the 83rd minute and had a potential Franjo Ivanovic equalizer ruled out for offside after a video assistant referee check, progressed to the playoffs in 21st place.
Photo: AFP
Union had started the evening 15th, level on points with Rangers.
“It’s a massive achievement for the whole squad,” Rangers head coach Philippe Clement told TNT Sports. “Massive clubs with massive budgets have finished behind us, and around us, the achievement is only bigger by beating four of the seven top teams. Maybe we don’t have the talent of other teams, but it’s about mentality. The belief was there from the first day, but it’s about digging in and giving everything we have.”
Rangers, well adrift of archrivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, could have been 2-0 up just before halftime when Cyriel Dessers had the ball in the back of the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The 2022 Europa League finalists soaked up plenty of pressure in the second half, with Kevin Rodriguez and Ross Sykes squandering late chances for the visitors, who suffered only their second defeat in 19 matches in all competitions.
The automatic qualification for the knockout stages, on 14 points and ahead of Bodo/Glimt, RSC Anderlecht and FCSB on goal-difference, saved Rangers from a two-legged playoff.
Rangers had to substitute fullback Leon King in the 19th minute after a blow to the head.
“We conceded a goal which we know as a team we should do a lot better. It made it closer,” Rangers captain James Tavernier said of the late effort by Mac Allister, older brother of Liverpool’s Argentine midfielder Alexis. “We sneaked into the top eight. We didn’t have a clue until the end.”
Rangers next face Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, Twente or Fenerbahce when they return to European action next month.
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