Rangers’ defensive weakness was exposed once again as they lost to Ferencvaros, ending their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.
Danny Röhl’s side knew they needed a win in Budapest to break into the top 24 and Bojan Miovski gave them hope when he was awarded an acrobatic opener after a VAR check.
But deep into half-time, Bens Otvos was able to draw the hosts level with a deflected shot.
Nasser Djiga gave Rangers hope with two brilliant last-gasp tries, but it was another mistake as Barnabas Varga put Robbie Keane’s side in charge with his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Rangers remain at 1 point with only 2 games remaining. Ferencvaros advanced in 14th place and appears certain to qualify for the knockout stages.
Europe’s recession continues
Danny Röhl is yet to win a European game as Rangers manager.
Röhl took over from Russell Martin and has taken 7 wins and 5 losses in the Scottish Premier League, but has taken just one point from 12 wins in Europe.
The home side missed a glorious chance after three minutes when striker Bamidele Yusuf easily broke through the Gers defense and his shot went wide of the target.
The visitors settled down but in the 18th minute goalkeeper Jack Butland failed to gather a high ball in a crowded penalty area after a corner and Toon Raemaekers poked the ball wide from 12 yards.
The Hungarian side, sporting the green and white hoops so closely associated with the Gers’ Old Firm rivals Celtic, regained the advantage but were undone by a moment of magic.
Bojan Miovski gave Rangers the lead with an acrobatic finish.
Miovski’s dramatic hitch kick from six yards after Danilo’s attempted cross from Max Aarons appeared to have been in an offside position, but there were huge cheers from the Gers support when VAR confirmed the goal.
Moments later Yusuf received a clever pass from Otvos but hit the side netting from eight yards. Just when it looked like Röhl’s side would take the lead and escape down the tunnel with a gap, the 27-year-old Hungarian striker swept in captain Ibrahim Cisse’s cut-back and the ball deflected slightly towards Djiga and darted past Butland.
Bence Otvos equalized with Ferencvaros just before halftime.
A gap appeared in the Gers defense in the 50th minute and only Djiga’s excellent recovery tackle prevented Varga from firing over Butland as the Light Blues cleared a corner.
Down the stretch, Djiga blocked Yusuf’s attempt as Ferencvaros stayed in front, but they took the lead when Callum O’Dowda’s cross from the left was headed in by Varga and Gers defender Emmanuel Fernandez allowed a free header.
In the 87th minute, Findlay Curtis had a decent shot blocked by Ferencvaros goalkeeper David Grof, but there was no pressure in the second half.
‘I’m very angry’
rangers head coach Danny Roel:
“I was very angry about the goals we conceded. Today was very disappointing for me.
“I think we played a solid first half and if we keep going, this is the away you want to be.
“When you go into half-time with a lead, they have to open up more and more space, space opens up and they give up the first goal and then in the second half they miss too many transition moments and lose the ball.
“Then the second one is too easy. There’s positioning, and it’s a long, long, long ball. I think it’s about 40 meters in the air. As long as you position it well, nothing happens.”
“This is where we are not clinical enough.
“Now this is the second game in a row in this tournament. You see a competitive team, you see a team moving forward, but you see a team tearing down a team that has worked hard in two or three situations.
“You have to be sharp in 90, 95 minutes to get anything, and if you do that, in every duel, you have a chance to win this game today.”
Röhl rebuild needed
Can Danny Röhl change Rangers’ fortunes?
Allison Conroy on Sky Sports:
European nights have been Rangers’ sanctuary during their domestic struggles in recent seasons, having reached the knockout stages of UEFA’s second division tournament five times in the last six years.
But now they have pride of place in the final two games of this year’s competition as the challenges Röhl faces to strengthen his team in January have once again been laid bare.
Injuries have forced the manager to rely on a makeshift central defense of Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandes, highlighting the mistakes his predecessor made in the summer.
Weak in defense and often lacking in confidence, it is clear that the German needs more of a leader to cope with the demands of playing in an Ibrox team.
What will happen to Rangers?
Rangers’ The next Europa League match is at home to the Bulgarian team. ludogorets It is scheduled to be held on January 22nd. Their last match is: porto On January 29th.
