Tonight’s Europa League encounter between Rangers and Rapid Vienna was high in tension, low in quality.
The stakes were high for both sides, and it showed in their respective performances. Rapid, requiring only a draw, were unsure whether to stick or twist for large parts of the game.
Rangers, knowing only a win would do, were reluctant to commit men forward too soon. They knew that conceding just once, would likely spell the the end of their hopes.
Ultimately, Dejan Ljubicic’s 84th minute goal did just that.
However, it all could have been so different, if it hadn’t been for one thing.
The woodwork.
After a delicious ball in from James Tavernier on 21 minutes, Connor Goldson rose highest in the box.
Had the vice-captain converted the chance, Rangers could have sat back and held what they had, only foraying forward on the counter-attack. But, it wasn’t to be.
He connected well and left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot, but, he didn’t quite get over it.
We weren’t to know it then, but as the ball crashed off the upright, Rangers’ European dreams were effectively ended.
They were to create no further clear-cut chances in the remaining 70 minutes, ensuring that even without Ljubicic’s goal, they wouldn’t have progressed.
With just the one shot on target, it was a tame end to a European adventure that started way back in July. However, having been dumped out in the first qualifying round to Progres Niederkorn last time round, great strides have been taken this season.
This evening’s match was just one step too far.
