Rangers lost to Ferencvaros, which all but ended their hopes of progressing to the Europa League and once again exposed their defensive weaknesses.
Danny Rohr’s side knew they needed a win in Budapest to have a realistic chance of finishing in the top 24, and Bojan Miovski’s acrobatic opener after a VAR check gave them hope.
However, they switched off deep in first-half stoppage time and Bence Otvos leveled the score with a deflected shot.
Nasser Dziga gave Rangers hope with two excellent last-minute challenges, but they once again found themselves behind, with Barnabas Varga leading Robbie Keane’s side ahead with his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Rangers hold one point with two games remaining. Ferencvaros has moved up to 14th place and appears to have secured a spot in the knockout stages.
Europe’s woes continue
Danny Rolle has yet to win a European game as Rangers head coach
Since replacing Russell Martin, Roll has won seven games and lost five in the Scottish Premiership, but has won just one point from 12 wins in Europe.
The home side missed a great chance in the third minute when attacker Bamidele Yusuf easily penetrated the Gers defense and sent a shot wide of the target.
The visitors settled down, but in the 18th minute goalkeeper Jack Butland failed to pick up a high ball in the packed penalty area after a corner kick, allowing Toon Raymakers to slot the ball into the side of the goal from 12 yards.
The Hungarian side, playing in green and white hoops closely associated with Gers’ old rivals Celtic, regained the upper hand but overturned them with a magical moment.
Bojan Miovski puts Rangers ahead with an acrobatic finish.
Miovski’s superb hitch-kick from six yards after Danilo attempted to latched onto a cross from Max Aarons appeared to have been from an offside position, but Gers supporters erupted in cheers when VAR confirmed the goal.
Moments later, Yusuf received a deft pass from Otvos, but his shot found the side netting from eight yards out. Just as Rohr’s side looked like they would be heading down the tunnel at the interval after taking the lead, the 27-year-old Hungarian attacker swept away captain Ibrahim Cissé’s cut-back and the ball deflected slightly off Dziga before heading past Butland.
Bence Otvos equalized for Ferencvaros just before half-time.
In the 50th minute, cracks appeared in Gers’ defense and when the Light Blues dealt with a corner kick, only Dziga’s excellent recovery tackle stopped Varga’s shot against Butland.
Ferencvaros then remained on top as Dziga stretched out to block Yussuf’s shot, but Varga headed home Callum Odowda’s cross from the left and Gers defender Emmanuel Fernandes took the lead with a free header.
In the 87th minute, Findlay Curtis’ shot was saved by Ferencvaros keeper David Groff, but the late siege failed.
“I’m very angry.”
Rangers head coach Danny Rohr:
“I’m very angry about the goal we conceded. It’s very disappointing for me today.
“I think we played a solid first half. Move on, and this is exactly what you want.
“We went into half-time with a lead and they had to get more and more open, we found space and we conceded the first goal, and then in the second half we missed so many transition moments and lost the ball.
“Then the second one is too easy. You’re in position. It’s a long, long, long ball. I think the ball is 40 meters in the air. If you’re in the right position, nothing will happen.”
“These are areas where we are clinically inadequate.
“This is the second game in a row in this tournament, and you see teams that are competitive, teams that are moving forward, but you see two or three situations where you see teams tear down teams that are working hard.
“We have to be sharp in the 90th, 95th minute to get something. If we can do that, we have a chance to win today’s game.”
Role rebuild required
Can Danny Rolle turn around Rangers’ fortunes?
Alison Conroy of Sky Sports:
Rangers have struggled domestically in recent years, having reached the knockout stages of the UEFA second division competition five times in the past six years, so European nights have become Rangers’ sanctuary.
But now that the challenges facing Rohr to strengthen his squad have become clear once again in January, they only have the pride of playing in the final two games of this year’s competition.
Injuries have been a problem for the head coach, who has had to rely on makeshift central defense in Nasser Dziga and Emmanuel Fernandes, highlighting mistakes made by his predecessor in the summer.
Defensively weak and often lacking in confidence, it is clear that the Germans need more leadership to cope with the demands of playing in an Ibrox side.
What will happen to the Rangers?
Rangers’ next Europa League game will be at home to Bulgaria’s Ludogorets on January 22nd. The final match will be away against Porto on January 29th.
