Rangers crash to Luxembourg minnows

PARIS: Rangers’ return to Europe after a six-year hiatus was short-lived as the Scottish side crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat in the Europa League first qualifying round Tuesday at Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.

Pedro Caixinha’s side had taken a 1-0 first-leg lead to Luxembourg but fell behind to second-half strikes from Emmanuel Francoise and Sebastien Thill.

Part-timers Niederkorn, who had never won a European match before, advance 2-1 on aggregate to a second qualifying-round clash with either AEL Limassol of Cyprus or Gibraltar’s St Joseph’s.

Daniel Candeias, Alfredo Morelos and Jordan Rossiter were handed their first starts of the new campaign by Ranger’s Portuguese manager Caixinha but failed to make an impact.

A Kenny Miller close-range strike after seven minutes was blocked by Sebastian Flauss, while James Tavernier’s header hit the bar.

The hosts sensed their chance in the second half and as the visitors were slow clearing their lines from a corner Francoise arrived in front of David Bates to fire home the equaliser after 66 minutes.

But worse was to come with 14 minutes to play. Rangers conceded a free-kick and paid the price as Sebastien Thill’s set-piece bounced into the net.

Substitute Josh Windass and Miller both struck the crossbar in the dying stages but there was to be no rescue act for Rangers.

In Tuesday’s second match Hungary’s Videoton qualified 5-3 on aggregate after a 3-3 draw on the night at Malta’s Balzan. – AFP