RANGERS certainly don’t do it the easy way. A year on after a remarkable night in Ufa saw them qualify for the Europa League, the achievement was repeated on an even more incredible evening at Ibrox.
Alfredo Morelos scored the only goal of the game, the only one of the tie, as Steven Gerrard’s side saw off Legia Warsaw to reach the group stages once again.
Gerrard has often spoken of needing to replicate the buzz he got as a player now that he is in the dugout. When Morelos’ found the net here, the adrenaline would have been pumping through the 39-year-old as much as every Gers fan in a 45,000 strong crowd.
Those that were here will remember this one for a long time and now there are six more European outings to come as Rangers embark on another continental adventure.
READ MORE: Rangers 1 Legia Warsaw 0: Five things we learned as Rangers march on with late winner
The talk in the build-up to this one had been dominated by the off-field action as much as what would happen on the park. Both were vitally important for Rangers.
Gerrard had insisted beforehand that the loss of some 3,000 supporters wouldn’t have a negative impact on the Ibrox atmosphere. The Union Bears were noticeable by their absence and a UEFA banner which read #EqualGame replaced them in the Broomloan Stand.
In the Club Deck, two further sections were closed off as Rangers felt the force of the governing body following sectarian chanting in the qualifier with St Joseph’s last month. Time will tell if further punishments are to come following a further charge for their behaviour in Warsaw last week.
The punishment from UEFA left the home crowd down in numbers but the volume was still turned up as the teams took the park for what Gerrard hoped would be another famous night under the floodlights.
All eyes and ears were on the home crowd and their songbook but attentions were diverted to the away section before kick-off. A banner proclaiming ‘Be not afraid’ accompanied a flag of Pope John Paul II that filled the corner as the Legia fans made their presence felt at Ibrox.
The Poles had created quite an atmosphere in the first leg and the onus was now on those in red, white and blue to do likewise. Given what was at stake, Gerrard needed everything to go in favour of his side.
READ MORE: Rangers 1 Legia Warsaw 0: How the Rangers players rated in dramatic Europa League triumph
The Gers boss had backed the fans to inspire his side but that was two-fold and the players had to give the support something to get excited about with a quick start.
Rangers were on the front foot from the off but the goal their play probably deserved didn’t arrive a first half that was promising in large spells turned into a frustrating one at the whistle.
Scott Arfield couldn’t capitalise as he was crowded out after a burst forward, while Sheyi Ojo spurned an opening after Arfield and Morelos broke and the ball fell to the winger at the edge of the area. When it really mattered, he didn’t quite have the quality that Rangers needed.
The same could be said of Morelos. His miss in Warsaw last week saw Rangers pass up their best chance of the night but the one he failed to covert here was even more gilt-edged as his header from a Ryan Jack cross lacked conviction and direction.
His next effort had a bit more power behind it as he shifted the ball onto his right after being sent clear by Joe Aribo. The shot was easily held by keeper Radoslaw Majecki, though.
The Pole had earlier saved from Ojo as Rangers showed enough attacking intent but not enough cutting edge as their chances started to become rarer as the evening unfolded.
At the other end, Allan McGregor hadn’t been called into action that often but he was once again on hand at the big moments. A couple of saves last Thursday had kept Rangers in the tie and when he denied Luquinhas there was a sigh of relief around Ibrox as Rangers escaped unharmed.
READ MORE: Who can Celtic and Rangers face in the group stages of the Europa League?
The noise from the Legia section was relentless but the home crowd would rise and fall as the action flowed from end to end. Every Warsaw attack was met with anxiety but there was no roar of celebration to greet any of the Rangers opportunities, most of which were half chances at best as crosses were blocked and passes misplaced.
Gerrard needed more from Morelos, more from Ojo and Arfield. As Jordan Jones waited to enter the attack, Rangers found a bit of spark.
Ojo almost found the top corner with a curling effort from the edge of the box, while Morelos saw a low strike deflected agonisingly wide of the far post before another strike was saved by Majecki as the Gers fans once again held their head in their hands.
As the Legia supporters lit up a handful of flares that filled the stand with a red glow and the air with smoke, the clock ticked into the final 15 minutes and the game had to be temporarily halted. It was tight, cagey and nerve-wracking.
There were chances at both ends – Katic heading over and Ojo denied from distance again – as extra time loomed. In the last minute, McGregor saved from Jaroslaw Niezgoda.
The board went up to signal six minutes of stoppage time. Within seconds, Morelos scored as he flicked home a Jones cross.
Ibrox went wild and the bench sprinted down the touchline to celebrate. Gerrard somehow had his head in the game and signalled to Glen Kamara to come on for the final, frantic stages.
Before he could, a melee broke out and tempers were as high as the decibel levels and emotions spilled over at the final whistle as the players again came together.
The sound of celebration rung around Ibrox. It hadn’t been easy, but Rangers had done the job once again.
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