Djeidi Gassama turned super-sub once again with a crucial goal as Rangers beat profligate Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate in their Champions League second qualifier in Athens.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg at Ibrox, only another fine performance in the Olympic stadium from Rangers’ goalkeeper Jack Butland, who thwarted the Greek side in the first leg, kept the tie goalless at the break. Filip Djuricic opened the scoring with a header in the 53rd minute but moments after coming off the bench, Gassama, who scored from a substitute’s role on his debut last week, levelled at 1-1 with a stunning drive.
A remarkable start to the 21-year-old’s Rangers career took the heat out of the home side’s fightback, although Russell Martin should not be fooled. His side rode their luck for the second time against Panathinaikos, who will rue a series of missed opportunities over the two games. Rangers set up a third qualifying tie against the Czech side Viktoria Plzen, who knocked out Switzerland’s Servette.
Martin told Rangers’ official YouTube channel: “I’m so proud of the team, the group and the fans were incredible. It was a big night for us, so early on in the process of trying to be the team we want to be.
“I don’t think it can be underestimated how difficult this tie and this night was and, especially after the first half, it was so difficult. But I think the players have come through a really tough time and I’m really proud of them.
“And then we have a setback by conceding the goal and then we took the sting out of the game by scoring and responding really quickly, that’s not easy.
“The fans were amazing and they stuck with us throughout and it’s been a really good night and we will get better. It’s so early on. There’s loads of growing to do and nights like this will definitely help the players grow.”
In what was Martin’s first away game as Rangers manager and only his second in Europe, he kept the same side which started last week at Ibrox. Rui Vitória’s side were without suspended right-back Georgios Vagiannidis, sent off in Glasgow for picking up two yellow cards, and his place was taken by Giannis Kotsiras.
The home side bossed and battered Rangers in the first half, starting in the fifth minute when midfielder Anastasios Bakasetas drove just wide from the edge of the box following another corner. In the 14th minute, Rangers’ dithering defender Max Aarons was robbed by former Manchester United man Facundo Pellistri, which left the attacker one-on-one with Butland and the goalkeeper brilliantly blocked the shot.
Butland then made another terrific save from a close-range header by captain Fotis Ioannidis, who had beaten defender John Souttar to a great cross from Pellistri. Panathinaikos defender Erik Palmer-Brown headed a Bakasetas free-kick over the bar from six yards before the unmarked Pellistri missed a sitter in the 28th minute, blasting high over from 12 yards after James Tavernier had conceded possession inside the box.
Rangers’ two real efforts came in rare attacks, Findlay Curtis missing the target and Nico Raskin heading over, both from corners.
Waves of Panathinaikos pressure continued after the break but when Duricic wrong-footed Butland with a header from a Bakasetas cross, the flag went up for offside. However, after a long VAR check, the Italian referee, Simone Sozza, awarded the goal but more drama quickly ensued.
Moments later, Gassama, the former Sheffield Wednesday forward who replaced Curtis after the goal, fired in off the post from 14 yards in a rare Rangers attack to restore their two-goal lead.
Rangers’ substitute Cyriel Dessers missed a great chance in added time when he failed to beat Bartlomiej Dragowski following a counterattack but it mattered not. Rangers moved into the next qualifying round and guaranteed themselves group-stage European football of some sort this season.
Shelbourne’s hopes of progressing in the Champions League were ended by a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Azerbaijani club Qarabag in the second qualifying round.
Trailing 3-0 following last week’s first leg at Tolka Park, the League of Ireland champions were beaten 1-0 at Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. Elimination means Joey O’Brien’s side drop into the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Qarabag, who played in the Champions League group stage during the 2017-18 season, went ahead on the night in the 44th minute thanks to an own goal from John Martin. The visitors came close to a 56th-minute equaliser when mKerr McInroy was denied by home goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski following fine work down the left from Liverpool loanee James Norris. O’Brien’s men could have fallen further behind in the 68th minute but Wessel Speel saved a penalty from Qarabag’s Brazilian midfielder Kady Borges.
