Allan McGregor penalty save puts Rangers in play-offs after Maribor draw
Rangers held their nerve in Maribor as Allan McGregor’s stoppage-time penalty save sealed the 0-0 draw which took Steven Gerrard’s men into the Europa League play-offs.
The Rangers manager vowed on Wednesday that he would not park the bus and look to protect their 3-1 first-leg lead. But the Light Blues had to grit their teeth as the Slovenian club came for them at the Ljudski Stadion, with McGregor capping off a fine display as he repelled Marcos Tavares’s late spot‑kick.
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A 4,600-mile round trip now beckons for Rangers as they march on to face FC Ufa.
It was a mistake from the captain, James Tavernier, which quickened the Scots’ heart-rates but McGregor – as he was all night – was there to rescue as he pushed away Tavares’ effort.
Amir Dervisevic almost caught Rangers off-guard as he lined-up a free-kick 30 yards out, and the Slovenian international whipped a free-kick towards the top corner. Once again McGregor was pulling off another vital stop.
Andy Halliday had the ball in the net three minutes into the second half but Alfredo Morelos had run the ball out of play in the build-up.
Jamie Murphy wasted another chance for Gers after being sent clear by Morelos.
The tense atmosphere grew even more hostile as Belgian referee Jonathan Lardot stopped the game briefly to collect an array of objects that had rained down towards McGregor as he took a goal-kick. But he continued to defy the home support, pulling off a wonder block at point-blank range as Aleks Pihler nodded down for Tavares.
There was one last fright in added time as Connor Goldson gave away a penalty with a trip on Luka Zahovic, but McGregor blocked Tavares’ strike with his legs.
Hibernian came unstuck against Molde as Erling Braut Haaland sent Neil Lennon’s side crashing out.
Haaland missed the goalless first leg in the third qualifying round to hold talks with Salzburg but the 18-year-old returned to score twice and set up another as Hibs lost 3-0 in Norway.
The son of the former Leeds player Alf-Inge Haaland headed home from close range in the 35th minute.
Haaland, who has been watched by Manchester United, set up Fredrik Aursnes to score in the 66th minute and he completed the job with another close-range finish with eight minutes left after Jamie Maclaren had been denied by the post for the visitors.