Rangers banished their Belgian nightmare to make history as they roared back from two goals down for the first time in their history to complete a remarkable comeback on another epic European night at Ibrox and book a Champions League playoff spot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst savoured yet another brilliant victory on the European stage as he moved to within 180 minutes of the group stage of UEFA’s premier competition, which he lifted as a player with Barcelona, as Rangers look to rub shoulders with the cream of the continent for the first time in 11 years. And rake in around £30m-40m.
Left with a mountain to climb after their flop in Leuven, they scaled it on an unforgettable night in Govan against Union Saint-Gilloise whose misery was compounded with an injury time red card for Jean Lazare Amani. Rangers were gifted their opener after a moment of madness from Siebe Van der Heyden who handled inside the box and James Tavernier made no mistake from the spot. Antonio Colak headed home a second after the restart to level the tie on aggregate with Ibrox rocking and Malik Tillman nodded home a dramatic – and brilliant – late winner.
Van Bronckhorst made three changes from the side that started in Belgium with fit again Ryan Kent, Tom Lawrence and Scott Arfield coming in for Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Rabbi Matondo with Alfredo Morelos left on the bench.
It was an attacking line-up and the anticipated fast start came from the home side with Tillman heading over from Tom Lawrence’s corner in the best early chance before Colak went close with a header just over from Tavernier’s free kick.
USG were on the back foot but dangerous on the counter, knowing one goal could kill the atmosphere. And they should have had it when Siebe Van der Heyden had a free header from a corner but luckily for Rangers he couldn’t direct it on target.
At the other end Colak did manage to get his header on target from Lawrence’s perfect set piece delivery but the Croat was denied by a superb Anthony Moris save as the keeper tipped the ball over.
Nerves grew as the half wore on and the net hadn’t bulged but that all changed just before the break. And there was a bit of good fortune as Van der Heyden inexplicably handled a hopeful Borna Barisic cross into the box.
Having defended so well, it was a moment where the visitors really shot themselves in the foot.
Greek referee Tasos Sidiropoulos had no option but to point to the spot and Tavernier took a short run up before firing into the net.
It was exactly what they needed as Ibrox erupted and so did tempers with Scott Arfield involved in a bit of afters and USG keeper Moris and Colak booked.
Rangers had the bit between their teeth and grabbed that all-important second to level the tie on aggregate just before the hour mark. Lawrence lofted a ball in for Tavernier and he teed up Arfield whose shot was parried but Colak leapt to meet the rebound and head home from close range.
The Light Blues then had a huge let off when a second yellow card for James Sands was overturned by Sidiropoulos and from there Rangers kicked on and got that vital third goal to book a play-off spot.
Borna Barisic floated a ball into the box and on-loan Bayern Munich man Tillman opened his scoring account as he outjumped USG keeper Moris to head into the net and complete a remarkable comeback before the visitors were reduced to 10 men at the death with a second booking for Amani for dissent. Here’s 5 talking points from Ibrox...
Gio comes up trumps
Make no mistake, van Bronckhorst was under pressure after the limp Leuven display and he produced the goods. He decided to leave Morelos on the bench when many would have started the Colombian and opted to go with Kent from the start. It was a professional display with patience on a nervy night and it was another big European performance from the Dutchman.
Terrific Tav
Rangers skipper Tavernier just loves the European stage. His Magnificent Seven goals earned him the Europa League golden boot last season and he picked up where he left off last season at Ibrox.
There was so much pressure on his shoulders when he stepped up to take that penalty just before half time but you would never have known it. He was the coolest man inside the stadium and despatched it with aplomb.
Livewire Lawrence
Lawrence was on the bench for the first leg and was introduced in the second half but what a performance he produced here to show what he’s capable of. Joe Aribo left big boots to fill having scored in the Europa League Final and produced big moments during his time at Rangers. But former Derby County man Lawrence showed great vision with pinpoint accuracy passing and set pieces and looks set to be a big player.
He lost the Heyden
Union Saint-Gilloise boss Karel Geraerts must have been tearing his hair out in the away dug-out over his defender Van der Heyden. First of all he sent a free header over from a corner when he should have bulged the net and, with the game still goalless, that would have changed the whole game. But if that wasn’t bad enough then shortly after the former FC Eindhoven centre back then handled the ball to gift Rangers their penalty.
Gers go Dutch
PSV Eindhoven stand in the way of Rangers and a place in the Champions League group stage and it’s a team that brings back happy memories for Rangers fans of different ages in this competition. The older generation will recall the famous meeting in 1978 when John Greig’s men earned a famous 3-2 victory thanks to Bobby Russell’s winner.
But current boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst enjoy a happy return to Holland with the rest of the Gers Dutch contingent, including boss Dick Advocaat, in 1999 with a 1-0 win in the Champions League in Eindhoven and 4-1 thumping at Ibrox when current PSV boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy was part of the side.
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