By Lee ClarkRangers marched into the last 16 of the Europa League winning 2-1 in an enthralling end-to-end game against a USG side who were much tidier than many gave them credit for. Before a ball was kicked in this competition many had wondered if Rangers could even finish in the top 24, such was the quality of opposition but, a disappointing night against Lyon aside, Rangers have come through the test with flying colours despite playing four of the other seven teams who would join them in the top eight.The last time these two sides met at Ibrox, it was an electric night. In truth a third round qualifying Champions League tie against relative unknowns from Belgium wouldn’t normally stir the emotions to that sort of level but, with the Gers trailing 2-0 from the first leg, and on the back of a quite shocking penalty decision for Union’s second goal, the hackles were well and truly up. On a night when Rangers needed to win and to win well, they did just that with Ibrox exploding to life as the Gers ran out 3-0 winners. Philippe Clement would be hoping for more of the same on the night.For Rangers it was already job done as they had qualified for the playoff round with a game to spare but there was no time for rest as there was still that aforementioned top 8 spot up for grabs. A boffin or super-computer somewhere had decided that the Gers had only a 10% chance of taking one of those spots, such was the different permutations required and in fact Rangers could finish as high as 5th or as low as 23rd, depending how results went on the night, such was the congested nature of this year’s Europa League competition. Both they and the visitors went into this one level on points, requiring a minor miracle and no fewer than five (six depending on who you spoke to) results to go their way, in order for them to essentially skip a round and go straight through to one of the coveted last 16 spots.Gaffer Clement wasn’t thinking about that however and the message was clear. Rangers had to take care of business tonight and hope to finish as far up the league as possible although after seeing some of the potential ties in the next stage of the Champions League as well as some of the giants of European football sitting well below Rangers in this competition it’s fair to say that finishing higher didn’t necessarily mean easier.For The Gaffer and Rangers there were yet more enforced changes along with some tactical ones as Yilmaz and Barron failed to recover from limping out of proceedings at Old Trafford last week and Ross McCausland dropped to the bench being replaced with Cerny who missed the weekend’s fine win at Tannadice. Mohamed Diomande, fresh from the midweek suspension nonsense, returned to the European line up and there was a welcome return to the squad for John Souttar.James Tavernier, after performing so well in the second half in Manchester was asked to take up that role again in central defence which saw a rare start for youngster Leon King at right back, who disappointing only lasted 14 minutes after suffering a head knock. Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane were tasked with leading the attack again as they had done so well, in Dundee.It was a nervy start from both teams with neither side imposing themselves on the game in the opening stages, in fact the only real ‘chance’ if you can even call it that was a sublime piece of skill from Igamane on the left, absolutely skinning his opponent but, his cross to Cerny was blocked. Shortly after it was a comedy of errors in the Rangers box as Union not once but twice missed their kicks from good positions in the box and the danger was cleared. By this point Ross McCausland had replaced the aforementioned King at right back, a gutting moment for the youngster, who has had to be extremely patient to get a chance under Philippe Clement and just further highlighted the utter ridiculousness that is Rangers injury list. This seemed to spark the home side into life though and they flooded forward, winning a freekick which was headed over from Dessers.The Nigerian enigma really should have done better but undeterred, Rangers kept pressing forward winning two corners in quick succession the second of which led to the opening goal. Electing to go short after his first corner was blocked, Tavernier swept a fantastic cross to the back post and Rangers’ own Belgian, Nico Raskin was there to head them into the lead.It was a fine finish but, once again in this competition it was a goal all about Tav. Is anyone even bothering to keep count of his goal contributions in the Europa League anymore? A quite ridiculous record just got better and Rangers were ahead.That goal propelled the Gers up to 9th and as it stood, a Man Utd goal in Bucharest would secure a top 8 slot however that notion was quashed minutes later as some indecisiveness in Rangers box allowed Union to nip in and prod the ball through Jack Butland’s legs for what seemed to be the equaliser. Rangers immediately surrounded the referee, led by Tavernier, screaming for offside and to the relief of all but 800 of the 46k plus crowd, that proved to be the case. It was a massive let off, Rangers could breath and it should put to bed any chatter of top 8 finishes for now. Rangers had a job at hand and Union, playing some nice stuff in the middle of the park, weren’t here to make up the numbers.The game was well and truly alive at this stage but took a breath on 39 minutes as the stadium rose as one to pay a lovely tribute to Rangers fan Jaqueline Malone-Wallace who had tragically lost her life at the recent Aberdeen match.43 minutes on the clock and Rangers went looking to finish the match as a contest and Dessers was unlucky as he firstly seen his goal-bound shot deflected just wide after he done superbly well to hold off three defenders, turning them inside out in the process and from the resulting corner it took VAR and the most marginal of offside calls to deny the Nigerian after he calmly volleyed home Bajrami’s header back into the box.Into the second half and Rangers were immediately on the back foot as the visitors looked to get back into the game and within minutes it’s Captain Tavernier to the rescue again as he makes a quite incredible last ditch block with Butland rounded and the goal at Fuseini’s mercy. Rangers somehow escaped with a goal-kick after the rebound goes over and once again sparks the home team into action as they break upfield but, Cerny screws his volley wide from a terrific Jefte cross.The Czech wasn’t to be denied for long however as only a minute later he was to make it 2-0 cooly caressing the ball home from Dessers cut back. Just like the first, this goal was all about the assist, with Cyriel showing a sublime piece of skill to skin the Union defender and his inch perfect pass to Cerny almost made it harder to miss.It was a fantastic goal, made by a lad bang in form however despite extending their lead the group threw up another twist as Rangers slipped to 10th in the table however that wasn’t to last either and by the time Cerny had cracked another brilliant strike off an upright from 20 yards they were back up to 9th, now needing a goal in London or Nice to make the top 8.If it was nervy stuff for those of us in the stands the players weren’t showing a bit of it and continued to pile forward, with Hamza Igame shooting just wide from 20 yards before Ross McCausalnd saw his volley blocked. It had been a stirring performance from Rangers up to this point, playing some lovely stuff, doing everything asked of them and with the news filtering through on 74 minutes that Nice had equalised, the 46993 in attendance wondered if this was going to be another of those Thursday nights at Ibrox as Rangers lept into that automatic 8th place.No sooner had that happened and it was reality check time again however as Kevin Mac Allister ghosted into the box and headed Union back into the game. It’s a name more famous in Hollywood or Falkirk depending on your vintage and for the umpteenth time, we had to remind ourselves that the principal job was to win the game first and Rangers had handed Union a lifeline. A second later Ibrox held it’s collective breath again as the visitors found themselves in acres of space but contrived to scoop the ball over from only 8 yards.This was becoming a frantic and nervy end to proceedings with Union throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at it and creating another great chance to score in the dying seconds and after blasting over Rangers were straight up the other end but, the Union defence did enough to put Dessers off and he could only prod a weak shot into the goalkeepers grateful arms.It was to be the final act of the night as the referee called a halt to proceedings but, even as the final whistle sounded the drama didn’t end as out of nowhere Anderlecht had fought back from 4-1 down to 4-3 meaning another goal, in the tenth minute of added time would’ve cost Rangers. Thankfully it wasn’t to be and the Gers had achieved the unlikely to go straight into the last 16, an unbelievable achievement.Afterwards Philippe Clement was understandably delighted:It’s a massive achievement of the whole squad. And it really is the whole squad not just one team of 11 players. Today again we had Leon King starting at right fullback but then had to come off with concussion. But everyone dug in brilliantly. It’s not only being in the top 8 but when you see the massive clubs with massive budgets behind you and the fact we played 4 of the teams above us it makes it an even bigger achievement. I’m very proud of the whole squad.Asked about criticism he has have received this season and if he takes any personal satisfaction from tonight’s achievement.I’ve said to you guys before, you can write what you need to write but, it’s not about me, everyone is in the story together, there are no ego’s and you see that again tonight. I’m really not busy with these things. It’s about believing in yourself and in the team and just making a good plan and structure to stop the opponent and I believe on the day we can win against any opponent. Rangers will now face one of Fenerbahce, Twente, Anderlecht or Bodo/Glimt in the next round. All tough but winnable ties and if this Europa League has taught us anything, it’s to not take anything for granted but, it’s one we should all be very much looking forward to.
