2 years ago
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Could Leon Balogun's second-half header prove decisive for Rangers in Serbia next week?Rangers took a significant step towards the Europa League quarter-finals with a pulsating statement win over Red Star Belgrade at a raucous Ibrox.
James Tavernier's penalty and Alfredo Morelos' strike in the first 15 minutes sparked the game into life, before Aleksandar Katai - who had already had two efforts ruled offside - had a spot kick saved superbly by Allan McGregor.
That was all in a frantic opening 24 minutes and, although the tempo slowed, Leon Balogun's towering header gave Rangers a commanding lead to protect.
Inconsistent league form has caused the reigning Scottish champions to slip three points adrift in the Premiership, but they seem to find something within them for European nights, having done for Borussia Dortmund in a famous victory in the previous round.
And Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men rose to the occasion again against the Serbian title holders, giving themselves a golden chance to finish the job next Thursday and reach the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2008.
More to follow.
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Rangers
Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number26Player nameBalogun
Squad number3Player nameBassey
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number17Player nameAyodele-Aribo
Squad number18Player nameKamara
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Squad number19Player nameSands
Squad number30Player nameSakala
Red Star Belgrade
Squad number82Player nameBorjan
Squad number24Player namePiccini
Squad number25Player nameErakovic
Squad number15Player nameDragovic
Squad number23Player nameRodic
Squad number55Player nameSrnic
Squad number35Player nameSanogo
Squad number10Player nameKatai
Squad number8Player nameKanga
Squad number4Player nameIvanic
Squad number99Player nameOmoijuanfo
Squad number2Player nameGajic
Squad number9Player namePavkov
Squad number17Player nameMotika
Squad number31Player nameBen Nabouhane
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Balogun
- 3Bassey
- 4Lundstram
- 8JackBooked at 23minsSubstituted forSandsat 75'minutes
- 17Ayodele-AriboBooked at 30minsSubstituted forSakalaat 75'minutes
- 18Kamara
- 14Kent
- 20Morelos
Substitutes
- 9Diallo
- 16Ramsey
- 19Sands
- 23Wright
- 25Roofe
- 28McCrorie
- 30Sakala
- 31Barisic
- 33McLaughlin
- 43King
- 51Lowry
Red Star Belgrade
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 82Borjan
- 24PicciniSubstituted forGajicat 72'minutes
- 25ErakovicBooked at 81mins
- 15Dragovic
- 23RodicBooked at 60mins
- 55SrnicSubstituted forBen Nabouhaneat 61'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 35SanogoBooked at 25mins
- 10KataiSubstituted forMotikaat 84'minutes
- 8Kanga
- 4Ivanic
- 99OmoijuanfoSubstituted forPavkovat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Popovic
- 2Gajic
- 6Pankov
- 7Krsticic
- 9Pavkov
- 11Falco
- 17Motika
- 30Zivkovic
- 31Ben Nabouhane
- 49Radulovic
- 51Gordic
- 77Gobeljic
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 3, Red Star Belgrade 0.
Second Half ends, Rangers 3, Red Star Belgrade 0.
El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Red Star Belgrade) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Red Star Belgrade).
James Sands (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Milan Gajic.
Attempt saved. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Glen Kamara.
Foul by Mirko Ivanic (Red Star Belgrade).
Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Sekou Sanogo (Red Star Belgrade).
Glen Kamara (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Milan Pavkov (Red Star Belgrade).
Calvin Bassey (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Milan Rodic (Red Star Belgrade) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).
Offside, Red Star Belgrade. Milan Gajic tries a through ball, but El Fardou Ben Nabouhane is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Nemanja Motika (Red Star Belgrade) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Milan Gajic.
Offside, Red Star Belgrade. Mirko Ivanic tries a through ball, but El Fardou Ben Nabouhane is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Mirko Ivanic (Red Star Belgrade) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Milan Pavkov.
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