Rangers’ Champions League group-stage hopes are hanging by a thread as they were rocked by Union Saint-Gilloise last night in Belgium, losing 2-0 after a shaky defensive performance.
The Ibrox side, who sold Calvin Bassey for £19million to Dutch giants , had utility man James Sands thrown in for crocked John Souttar and the American struggled alongside Connor Goldson in central defence.
Union SG skipper Teddy Teuma hit a deserved opener in the 27th minute with a deflected effort past Gers keeper Jon McLaughlin. Dante Vanzeir then slotted home a second from the spot in 76 minutes after a controversial VAR award from referee Irfan Peljto, who ruled Goldson had handled in the box.
The Scottish Cup winners travelled to Belgium without injured winger Ryan Kent or Souttar. Wales international Rabbi Matondo made his competitive debut and fellow new signing Malik Tillman started.
McLaughlin kept his place in goal over last season’s No.1 Allan McGregor and it was a controlled opening to the game by Rangers. In the seventh minute a free-kick from the edge of the box from left-back Borna Barisic drew a fine save at his near post by keeper Anthony Moris, who then saved long-distance drives by Sands and Tillman as the Light Blues kept up the pressure.
However, a clear-cut chance eluded them and when the home team eventually came alive they were rewarded. In the 25th minute attacker Vanzeir slid a cross from Simon Adingra, on loan from Brighton, just past the near post.
But two minutes later, after Rangers had failed to clear their box, the ball fell to skipper Teuma and he fired through the hands of McLaughlin. The Belgians threatened to double their lead as the Ibrox side, making little headway in attack – although striker Antonio Colak missed an inviting cross from Tillman – wobbled under pressure.
After the break it did not get any better for Rangers, who despite dominating
possession were not making any headway towards the Union SG goal. The home side were quite happy to sit back and soak up any pressure Gers were putting on them before breaking forward.
They did just that in 57 minutes when Ivory Coast striker Simon Adingra headed over from six yards. Dutch full-back Bart Nieuwkoop was next to have a go when he hit the outside of the post from 18 yards.
Light Blues striker Antonio Colak fired over a dangerous cross in 68 minutes with no takers for the Ibrox side. And Union SG raced forward again with McLaughlin denying Vanzeir fom th edge of the box as the Belgiums had the Gers defence chasing shadows.
Union SG made it 2-0 when Vanzeir put away his penalty kick after the VAR check. Goldson was booked, adding insult to injury. With ten minutes to go Vanzeir raced forward and only a superb block from McLaughlin kept Gers in the tie. Deep into injury time James Tavernier cleared an effort off the line and the
visitors were perhaps relieved to escape with a 2-0 defeat.
Rangers manager van Bronckhorst said: ‘It was very disappointing. The performance was below par. We were sloppy with so much at stake in the Champions League. We made many mistakes and it was really below par. We were lucky it was only 2-0. We need to turn it around next Tuesday and we need to turn it around big-time.’
