Djeidi Gassama is shortly successful a spot within the hearts of Rangers followers, coming off the bench to attain towards Panathinaikos because the Scottish aspect progressed in Champions League qualifying.
Russell Martin’s workforce took a 2-0 result in Athens, however have been removed from snug within the searing warmth because the hosts piled on the strain.
Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland was as soon as once more the early hero as he produced a string of first-half saves within the Olympic Stadium to rescue his struggling defence.
There was an extended VAR examine earlier than Filip Duricic’s header gave Panathinaikos a deserved lead within the second half.
However summer time signing Gassama made his mark simply as he did within the first leg, firing within the equaliser lower than a minute after changing Findlay Curtis after to revive their two-goal cushion.
Rangers, 3-1 victors on combination, will face Servette or Viktoria Plzen within the third qualifying spherical, with the primary leg at Ibrox on August 5/6.
Gassama settles nerves as Rangers extra nearer to Champions League qualification
Rangers needed to face up to some early strain because the hosts regarded to get themselves again into the tie with a string of assaults.
Tasos Bakasetas fired simply extensive of the submit throughout the first 5 minutes earlier than Facundo Pellistri compelled an important cease from Butland.
The previous Engald goalkeeper was compelled into motion once more earlier than the break when he turned a close-range header from Fotis Ioannidis behind.
Panathinaikos continued to dominate and Pellistri ought to have scored halfway by means of the primary half when Duricic took benefit of some slack defending, however he didn’t get his shot on track.
Gassama scored seconds after coming off the Rangers bench
Rangers struggled to get out their very own half, though Nico Raskin did come shut towards the run of play when he headed a Joe Rothwell cross over the bar.
The house aspect broke the impasse 10 minutes after the restart when Duricic headed previous Butland to make it 1-0 on the evening and scale back the deficit.
The purpose was initially dominated out for offside, however awarded after a prolonged VAR examine discovered the Serbian to be onside.
Nonetheless, Rangers restored their two-goal lead virtually immediately when Gassama fired a volley previous the Panathinaikos goalkeeper together with his first contact and assure no less than Europa League soccer till Christmas.
Boyd: Rangers rode their luck however Martin will not care
Kris Boyd was watching the sport for Sky Sports activities Information:
“I thought in the first half there were similarities to the game in Glasgow, but Russell Martin won’t really care.
“I do know he is spoken about how he desires perfection, he desires his workforce to enhance recreation after recreation. I believe crucial factor whenever you get to this stage is discovering a technique to get by means of. Rangers have executed that.
“Yes, they rode their luck at times. Jack Butland had some huge saves in the first leg and he had another few tonight.
“It is an enormous end result for Russell Martin and Rangers over the tie to undergo, as a result of if Rangers had misplaced there have been lots of people asking questions of Russell Martin and the way in which that they wish to play as a result of he’d given up so many alternatives over each legs.
“But they found a way to get through and that’s all that matters for Rangers right now.
Rangers beat Panathinaikos stats
“This team has got a long, long way to go, even to probably get to that level of the last [Rangers] team to play the Champions League.
“Some thrilling gamers have arrived at Rangers, however Russell Martin is not foolish and he’ll know that there is a whole lot of work to be executed.
“They will fancy their chances of going through that next qualifier, but they’re going to have to tighten up defensively.
“Panathinaikos have been asking query after query of Rangers defensively. They’ve stood as much as it tonight, however the additional on you go in this sort of event you’ll think about the ahead strains will get higher from the opposition.”
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