Rangers edged past Union Saint-Gilloise in a tense encounter at Ibrox, securing a 2-1 victory despite a nervy finish.
Nicolas Raskin gave the hosts the lead in the first half and Václav Černý’s second-half goal elevated the Glaswegians into the automatic spaces of the Europa League, avoiding the playoff round, despite a late Kevin Mac Allister goal to set up a nervy ending.
As it happened
The hosts started strongly, dominating possession early on, and asking questions of USG, keeping them pinned back deep inside their half.
Former Accrington Stanley Defender Ross Sykes, looking shaky, nearly handed Rangers an early lead with a misplaced pass that Hamza Igamane took advantage of. Despite the Moroccan’s swift attack being quickly halted, alarm bells began to ring for the Belgians.
After waves of pressure, the breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute, crafted through a clever short-corner routine. Rangers skipper James Tavernier played a one-two pass with Wolfsburg loanee Černý, before delivering a well-guided ball into the area. Raskin met the ball at the back post with a glancing header, steering it past a stranded Anthony Moris and sending Ibrox into utter bedlam.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnion Saint-Gilloise looked to make an immediate response with a swift move from left wing-back Ousseynou Niang, but his move was halted by a heroic block from Leon King.
However, King’s evening ended there, after voicing to the Rangers bench he was having difficulty seeing as a result of an earlier challenge. The injury forced Phillipe Clement’s hand, as he brought on young winger Ross McCausland as a makeshift right-back.
Sébastien Pocognoli’s men continued pushing and eventually found a breakthrough with Croatian striker Franjo Ivanović taking advantage of Rangers’ sloppy defending. Frustratingly for USG, after running over to the jubilant away supporters, the goal was ruled offside, putting the Belgians back to square one.
Despite their disappointment, they continued to cause problems, with Mohammed Fuseini dragging a shot wide, letting Rangers off the hook.
Before the interval, Rangers number nine Cyriel Dessers had a goal chalked off for offside, ending the first half with only one goal seperating the two teams.
The second half began with Union Saint-Gilloise pressing aggressively, determined to claw their way back into the match, but Rangers struck a devastating blow in the 54th minute with a breathtaking counterattack.
Dessers, relentless in his movement, surged down the left flank, leaving his marker trailing. With perfect timing, he squared the ball to Černý, who kept his composure to slot it into the bottom corner, doubling Rangers’ advantage.
Embed from Getty ImagesUSG, however, refused to wilt. Sensing vulnerabilities in Rangers’ makeshift backline, they pressed forward with urgency. Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when Kevin McAllister, brother Liverpool’s Alexis, made his presence felt.
Rising between two defenders, he guided a perfectly placed header past Butland from a pinpoint delivery, setting up a nervy finale.
The closing moments were nothing short of chaos, with neither side demonstrating much composure in possession. In the dying seconds, Dessers had a golden chance to put the game to bed, but with only Moris to beat, he skewed his effort wide.
But Rangers had done enough. As the final whistle blew, Ibrox erupted in celebration and relief.
With results going their way across the continent, Rangers had secured an eighth-place finish, gaining automatic promotion to the Europa League round of 16.
Despite defeat in Glasgow, USG kept their European dream alive by the skin of their teeth, finishing in a playoff spot.
The lineups
RAN: Butland; King, Tavernier, Pröpper, Jefté; Diomande, Raskin, Bajrami; Černý, Dessers, Igamane
USG: Moris; Khalaili, Mac Allister, Leysen, Sykes, Niang; Perre, Sadiki, Vanhoutte; Ivanović, Fuseini