Filip Helander’s away goal heartens Rangers after slow start at Slavia Prague
This was not a match to endorse the credentials of either Slavia Prague or Rangers to make inroads beyond the Europa League’s last 16. Yet on the basis progression from this very stage is the task in hand, Steven Gerrard can be content by the taking of parity back to Glasgow. Rangers’ key fear resonates in the ghosts of Leicester City, who held Slavia to a scoreless draw in the Czech Republic before coming unstuck in the Midlands.
This tie is perfectly poised. Slavia dominated for long spells against the newly crowned Scottish champions but lacked bite. Still, it took a sensational Allan McGregor stop in the final minute of regulation time to earn Rangers their draw. The 39-year-old, who has been one of Rangers’ players of the season, left Lukas Masopust in visible disbelief by diving low to not just save but hold a ferocious header. McGregor’s acrobatics will be on video loops for years to come.
“We needed to call on Allan at an important time to make a world class save,” said Gerrard. “I’d say a draw was fair. This is a difficult place to come. Once we settled, we more than matched them.” It was easy to make the case for Slavia before a ball had been kicked. The Czech league leaders have a formidable home record, with the exertions as attached to Rangers’ weekend title triumph seen as having at least some impact. Such theories belied how impressive Rangers have routinely been in the Europa League over the past two seasons but it was legitimate to view Slavia as first leg favourites.
The hosts dominated the early stages. Switches of play were a key aspect of Slavia’s attack; from one of the first, the young Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson saw himself faced with both Peter Olayinka and Nicolae Stanciu. There was plenty to do as
Olayinka flicked the ball into the path of his Romanian teammate, with Stanciu’s curling finish from 19 yards delivered with wonderful skill. McGregor did not move.
Slavia continued to swarm thereafter. Jan Kuchta shot wide and McGregor saved smartly from a Lukas Provod free-kick as the Czechs chased a second.
That it did not arrive would have been an obvious Slavia concern, given Rangers’ recurring potency. One goal does not tend to be sufficient to defeat Gerrard’s team.
When an equaliser did arrive, it was via an unlikely source. Even the centreback Filip Helander couldn’t miss from all of a yard after Ianis Hagi’s cut-back. An inswinging Borna Barisic free-kick as knocked on by Connor Goldson preceded Hagi’s involvement. Slavia’s high defensive line had been exposed.
The second period had been scrappy before a Ryan Kent attempt almost crept under the crossbar of the home goalkeeper, Ondrej Kolar. That 65th minute opening emphasised growing confidence among the Rangers players.
Gerrard’s men were afforded an even better chance moments later, Goldson failing to properly connect with another menacing Barisic set play.
Patterson blocked from Oscar Dorley as Slavia chased a late winner they would have regarded as highly useful, if not quite essential, in respect of next Thursday at Ibrox. Rangers looked wholly content with their lot even before McGregor’s brilliance. “You react to it, stick your hand out and hopefully it doesn’t go in,” said the goalkeeper. This analysis didn’t do the incident justice. To put it mildly.