Rangers hang on to Europa League hopes despite Leon Balogun own goal

The Gers would have faced an uphill battle for knockout round qualification had they fallen to another defeat in Denmark

Nigeria’s Leon Balogun scored an own goal, but Ianis Hagi’s second-half strike helped Rangers battle to a 1-1 draw at Broendby in their Europa League game week four clash on Thursday.

Steven Gerrard’s men defeated the Danish side 2-0 at the Ibrox on matchday three and were clear favourites ahead of the return meeting at the Broendby Stadion in Copenhagen.

And despite creating the better openings in the early stages, Rangers failed to hit the back of the net as the striking duo of Alfredo Morelos and Fashion Sakala contrived to waste the visitors’ chances.

Even Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo could have done better with a header from a Gers’ free-kick, but the former Charlton man’s effort went off target.

And Broendby made the Scottish champions pay just before the break with their first goal of the group stages.

It, however, arrived in unpleasant circumstances for the visitors as Balogun redirected a Christian Cappis corner-kick into his own net.

The Nigerian international looked certain to end the match as the villain until Hagi struck a crucial equaliser for Rangers in the 77th minute.

Both sides could not find the winner afterwards, with the draw lifting Rangers to third on the table with four points, same as second-placed Sparta Prague, who were smashed 3-0 at Lyon.