Late joy for Rangers in turbulent clash at Ibrox

EUROPA LEAGUE: Injury time goal by Morelos secures place in group stages

RANGERS 1 LEGIA WARSAW 0 (RANGERS WIN 1-0 ON AGG)

Alfredo Morelos sparked jubilant scenes at Ibrox as his injury-time winner against Legia Warsaw sent Rangers into the Europa League group stage.

Eyes and ears were on the Govan stands as much as the action on the pitch after Uefa issued Gers with a double rap for sectarian singing.

But the biggest roar of the night was reserved for Morelos as he sealed a last-gasp 1-0 win which sees Steven Gerrard’s team repeat their feat of successfully making it all the way through four rounds to qualify.

Legia will likely now find themselves in trouble with European football’s governing body after the travelling Polish support set off a spectacular pyrotechnic display that saw the game temporarily halted with the field shrouded in a thick blanket of smoke.

Rangers were forced to close off 3,000 seats as a result of the sectarian chants that marred their opening qualifier with St Joseph’s, while the threat of a more severe punishment – including a full stadium closure – is yet to be decided after more chants were aired in Warsaw last week.

The Legia fans did their best to spark a response from the home support as they unfurled a banner apparently depicting the late Pope John Paul II, himself a Pole.

But the home faithful kept the songbook clean as they responded to Gerrard’s call to pump up the noise.

They might have been silenced inside two minutes had Sandro Kulenovic found a way to beat Allan McGregor after Legia countered at lightning speed.

But the Light Blues faithful were soon roaring their team on. Sheyi Ojo fired just wide after Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic waved play on when Morelos was tripped.

The Colombian really should have done better than head wide as he was presented with the early chance the hosts were longing for.

Ryan Jack did well to work space on the right before eventually throwing over a perfect cross to the back post, but Gers’ top scorer blinked at the worst possible moment.

There were moments of concern as the half drew to a close.

First, Luquinhas hassled the ball off James Tavernier and cut past Connor Goldson but he could not generate the power to beat McGregor.

Then Cafu was left worryingly free to head wide from Valerian Gvilia’s corner .

It took a last-ditch block by Igor Lewczuk to prevent Morelos starting the second half with a bang as Gers pushed for the opener.

The noise levels soared then fell as Ojo pulled out a finger-tip save from Majecki before Morelos pushed another effort just wide.

But with six minutes added on it was Rangers who were left to celebrate in wild style as Morelos got on to a Jordan Jones cross to flick home the precious winner with his head.

There were ugly scenes as the teams twice had to be separated after that.

Picture: SNS. Alfredo Morelos scores the late goal that gave Rangers victory in their Europa League play-off against Legia Warsaw.