Nico Raskin headed the opening goal and Vaclav Cerny slotted a second as Rangers raised their game to beat Belgians Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 in Glasgow on Thursday and go straight through to the Europa League last 16.
Belgian midfielder Raskin’s first goal of the season broke the ice in the 20th minute at Ibrox and Cerny calmly doubled the tally in the 55th as The Gers moved from 13th to eighth on goal difference.
The visitors, who pulled a goal back through Kevin Mac Allister in the 83rd and had a potential Franjo Ivanovic equaliser ruled out for offside after a VAR check, progressed to the playoffs in 21st place.
Union had started the evening 15th, level on points with Rangers.
“It’s a massive achievement for the whole squad,” Rangers’ Belgian manager Philippe Clement told TNT Sports television.
“Massive clubs with massive budgets have finished behind us, and around us, the achievement is only bigger by beating four of the seven top teams.
“Maybe we don’t have the talent of other teams, but it’s about mentality. The belief was there from the first day but it’s about digging in and giving everything we have.”
Rangers, well adrift of arch-rivals Celtic in the domestic league, could have been 2-0 up just before halftime when Cyriel Dessers had the ball in the back of the net but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The 2022 Europa League finalists soaked up plenty of pressure in the second half with Kevin Rodriguez and Ross Sykes squandering late chances for the visitors, who suffered only their second defeat in 19 matches in all competitions.
The automatic qualification for the knockout stages, on 14 points and ahead of Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht and Steaua Bucharest on goal difference, saved Rangers from a two-legged playoff.
Rangers’ had to substitute right back Leon King in the 19th minute after a head blow.
“We conceded a goal which we know as a team we should do a lot better. It made it closer,” Rangers captain James Tavernier said of the late effort by Mac Allister, older brother of Liverpool’s Argentine midfielder Alexis.
“We sneaked into the top eight. We didn’t have a clue until the end.”
Rangers will next face Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, FC Twente or Fenerbahce when they return to European action in March.
