RANGERS were defeated 2-0 by Union Saint-Gilloise in Champions League qualifying last night and now have it all to do in the return leg at Ibrox next week.
The Ibrox side’s exciting journey to the Europa League final last season whetted the appetite for European football’s elite club competition.
However, amid a passive first-half performance by the Light Blues, the home side took the lead in the 27th minute when captain Teddy Teuma opened the scoring with a shot which asked questions of Gers keeper Jon McLaughlin’s attempt to save.
A laboured display from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side continued after the break and a Dante Vanzeir penalty in the 76th minute doubled the Belgian side’s lead.
The return game is at Ibrox next Tuesday and Rangers will have to come up with something really special if they are to face either Monaco or PSV Eindhoven in the play-off.
However, IFAB handball ruling suggests that the Govan outfit should be heading into the return leg with a lesser deficit than they are now facing.
In the 71st minute McLauglin made saves from Adinga and then Vanzeir but as a VAR check stopped play, referee Irfan Peljto decided Teuma’s drive which hit the arm of defender Connor Goldson was deserving of a penalty. Vanzeir sent McLaughlin the wrong with his spot-kick.
It was a controversial call, and with Goldson being close to his defensive teammate it looked impossible for him to dodge out the way.
The ruling states: “Exceptions, e.g the player’s arm is already extended when there is no expectation o the ball coming at, or near, the player from a team-mate.”
With this in mind, it appears the referee got the decision wrong.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was frustrated with the call, but he admitted his team were well off the pace.
He explained: "For the penalty decision, I was surprised he gave the penalty with so much at stake for all the clubs involved. We want to take the right decisions and I think we couldn't do anything else with the deflection.
"The penalty was given and they scored. The most important thing now is for myself to reflect on our own game because we need to change it around on Tuesday, big time. The performance needs to be a lot better than we showed today."
