DJEIDI GASSAMA quickly won the Rangers fans and left the bench for scoring Pana Tina Nicos as Scotland developed in the Champions League qualifiers.
Russell Martin’s team took 2-0 lead to Athens, but was not comfortable in heat as the host accumulated pressure.
GERS’s goalkeeper Jack Butland was once again an early hero, producing half a series of savings to save the first half at the Olympic Stadium.
There was a long VAR inspection before Filip Duric’s header gave Panathinaikos a valuable lead in the second half.
However, the summer signature lyrics, as in the first bridge, restored the two -goal cushion and then replaced the Findlay Cutis and fired at the Equalizer in less than a minute.
A total of 3-1 winners, Rangers, will face Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifier with the first leg in IBROX on August 5th.
Lyrics Sama settles nerves as the Rangers get closer to the Champions League qualifications.
Gassama (Center) with Danilo and Nicolas Raskin
The Rangers had to endure some initial pressure when the host tried to return to the tie with a series of attacks.
TASOS BAKASETAS fired the posts in the first five minutes before Facundo Pellistri forced a decisive stop in Butland.
The former ENGALD goalkeeper took a short -term action before resting at FOTIS Ioannidis.
Panathinaikos continued to dominate, and Pellistri scored in the middle of the first half when Duric used a few free defense, but was not shot in the goal.
After leaving the Rangers bench, Gassama scored in a few seconds.
The Rangers struggled to take out his class, but Nico Raskin was close to the game as Joe Rothwell went beyond the bar.
Ten minutes after Duricic made a butland 1-0 at night and reduced the deficit, the home team broke the deadlock.
The goal was initially excluded for offside, but after a long VAR check, Serbian on side was found.
But the Rangers scored almost immediately when he fired Bali through Pana Tina Nicos goalkeeper. The first touch guarantees the Europa League football until Christmas.
Martin: We will grow from this
Russell Martin, coach of Rangers, was proud of the players with full time.
Rangers Chief coach Russell Martin Conversation with BBC Scotland:
“I just told the players in the dressing room, I am proud of them.
“It’s amazing to see where they were in five weeks.
“It’s not easy to get away from home. It’s a really difficult place to come. They’ve really digging into us and it’s important to us. Big John (Souttar) and Nasser (DJIGA) were fantastic. Jack Butland was great for the two games.
“We talked about the importance of submarines before the game and they were great.
“This is not a feat, we’ve been qualified for the Europa League and now you can actually attack the Champions League.
“We will get better. The group will grow too much from this.”
Boyd: The Rangers is lucky, but Martin will not care.
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Kris Boyd reflects the Rangers’ lottery for the Panatani Course in the Champions League qualifiers.
Chris Boyd I was watching the game of SKY SPORTS NEWS.
“In the first half, I thought it was similar to the game in Glassgo, but Russell Martin will not really care.
“I know that he is talking about how he wants perfection. He wants the team to improve the game after the game, and when he arrives at this stage, he thinks he is looking for a way to pass through. Rangers did so.
“Yes, they sometimes got lucky, Jack Butland had a great savings on the first leg and had some other things tonight.
“This is a big result of the Russell Martin and the Rangers passing through the tie. If the Rangers lost, many people asked a lot of questions about Russell Martin, and they gave up a lot of opportunities on both legs, so they wanted to play.
“But they found a way to pass and that’s important to the Ranger right now.
The Rangers beat the Panathinaikos statistics.
“The team had a long and long way to reach the last (Rangers) level to play the Champions League.
“Some interesting players arrive at the Rangers, but Russell Martin will not know that there is a lot of work to do.
“They will like the next qualifiers, but they will have to strengthen their defensive.
“Panathinaikos was asking questions about the Rangers’ defense. They were right for it tonight, but as you go to this type of tournament, you will imagine that the line will be better in the future.”
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