Crvena zvezda 2-1 Rangers (agg 2-4): Kent strike takes Gers through

Rangers rode their luck to clinch a place in the Europa League quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat in Serbia secured a 4-2 aggregate victory over Crvena zvezda.

The hosts were emphatically on top after 10 minutes of the second half, leading through Mirko Ivanic's early strike and repeatedly threatening the Rangers goal.

Yet Ryan Kent took advantage of an injury to nearest man Cristiano Piccini to charge into space before sending a deflected strike into the back of the net, taking sting out of the contest.

Allan McGregor made a remarkable string of saves for the Scottish visitors, who reached the last eight of a European competition for the first time since losing to Zenit in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup final. A stoppage-time penalty from El Fardou Ben Nabouhane gave Red Star the win on the night, but they had nothing to celebrate.

The hosts made a bright start and were ahead inside 10 minutes. From a short corner on the right, Rangers carelessly allowed a cross from Guelor Kanga to bounce, and Ivanic controlled with his chest before ramming past McGregor from eight yards.

It was almost 2-0 moments later as McGregor saved well from Ivanic, and the Scottish giants were jolted. Crvena zvezda went route one and carved out another glorious chance, but Milan Pavkov trickled a shot wide after Ohi Omoijuanfo got the better of two defenders in the air.

Piccini's fizzing left-footed drive just before half-time forced McGregor to pull off the spectacular to keep the lead down to one goal.

Early in the second half, McGregor had to stretch as Kanga's corner from the left almost bounced in. The hosts kept coming and Omoijuanfo hit a speculative volley that struck Connor Goldson and, fortunately for Rangers, deflected straight at McGregor.

The Rangers equaliser came against the run of play and was a choker for the hosts, Kent playing a one-two with Glen Kamara and bursting from his own half. The winger dashed away from a limping Piccini before hitting a shot that deflected off Aleksandar Dragovic and looped over goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

McGregor made a double save from Kanga and Ben, then kept out a header from Milan Gajic, before he was beaten from the spot at the death. It was some night for McGregor, and some night for Rangers. 

What does it mean? Crvena zvezda rocked

This win unmistakably felt like a defeat to Crvena zvezda. 

They have still never lost a home European match (including qualifiers) against a Scottish side in seven meetings (W4 D3), with games against Rangers accounting for four of those games (W3 D1), but this was a tie that Dejan Stankovic's players felt they could turn around, and until Kent struck that belief was holding. 

Had they pulled it off, Crvena zvezda would have been just the second team in Europa League history (since 2009-10) to overturn a deficit of three or more goals from the first leg of a knockout tie, but Rangers had other plans.

Marvellous McGregor

McGregor had made four saves by the interval, but the man who missed the 2008 UEFA Cup final through injury became even more influential after the break. 

He finished with 11 saves, the most recorded by Opta by any goalkeeper in a match in the competition this season. 

It was a blow that Crvena zvezda beat him from the spot late on after Kamara brought down Filippo Falco, but McGregor, at the age of 40, surely had one of the best nights of his career.

Kent gave Rangers a foothold

It seemed for all the world that Crvena zvezda were the likelier side to score the second goal, but Kent seized the chance when it came his way, converting his only shot of the game. 

Rangers have now scored in their last eight games in the Europa League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of nine from October 22, 2020 to March 11, 2021.

Key Opta stats:

- Including qualifiers, Rangers have now failed to win any of their five away games against Serbian sides in Europe (D1 L4); only at Spanish sides (P13 – D3 L10) have they visited more often without winning.
- Rangers have won only one of their last six Europa League away games (D3 L2), while they have conceded in each of their last seven; their longest such run in major European competition since September 1999 (13).
- All four of Kent's Europa League goals have come in the knockout stages. Since 2018-19, no Rangers player has scored more goals in the knockout stages than him (James Tavernier also four).
- At 40y 45d, McGregor is the oldest keeper to make at least 11 saves in a Europa League game, while it is the most in the knockout stages of the competition since Karl-Johan Johnsson vs Man Utd in August 2020 (13).

What's next?

Crvena zvezda host Kolubara on SuperLiga duty on Sunday. Rangers are also in action on Sunday as they travel to face Dundee.