Rangers’ chances of a Champions League group stage spot in 2022/23 are in real danger after the Scottish giants slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.
Union are bidding for their first European appearance since 1964, with Rangers aiming for a Champions League return, but Gio van Bronckhorst’s side face a mountain to climb at Ibrox next week.
Teddy Teuma’s calm finish put Union ahead before the break and a controversial late penalty allowed Dante Vanzeir to double their lead.
Rangers will need a major turnaround in Glasgow to avoid missing out on the Champions League with the advantage with Union after a historic night at Den Dreef.
MORE: Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Rangers: Time, TV channel, live stream, lineup for Champions League qualifying
Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Rangers final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Union Saint-Gilloise | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals: Teuma USG, 28th Min, Vanzeir USG 76th Min
Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Rangers as-it-happened
FULL TIME: UNION SAINT-GILLOISE 2 RANGERS 0
FULL-TIME: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 Rangers
Not our night in Belgium. Back to Ibrox next Tuesday for the second-leg. pic.twitter.com/VHXysyMk9h
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
Union Saint-Gilloise sealed a historic 2-0 win at Den Dreef as goals either side of the break from Teddy Teuma and Dante Vanzeir dealt a major blow to Rangers Champions League hopes in 2022/23.
? Quelle soirée, quelle victoire en wat een terugkeer in Europa! ?#USGRAN #DeBXLlafierté pic.twitter.com/DIcqmnQXFS
— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) August 2, 2022
89th Min: Union keeper Moris is down receiving treatment for an injury as four minutes of added time is announced.
82nd Min: ALMOST A THIRD FOR UNION!!
Goldson sloppily gives away possession, and Vanzeir burst into the box, but McLaughlin stands big to make a vital block.
80th Min: More changes from Rangers with Tom Lawrence and Scott Wright on and Tillman and Rabbi Matondo off.
77′ SUB: A double change for Rangers.
➡️ ON: Wright & Lawrence
⬅️ OFF: Matondo & TillmanUSG 2-0 Rangers | #UCL pic.twitter.com/nPs2rBzr6m
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
76th Min: UNION LEAD 2-0!!!
Despite his earlier misses, Vanzeir keeps his nerve from the spot, as he tucks home past McLaughlin!!
74 Mins: PENALTY TO UNION!!
Amani’s shot hits Goldson on the arm and after a quick VAR check…….it’s a penalty!!
*Video only available in the UK
A colossal blow to Rangers! ?
After a VAR review, a penalty is awarded against Connor Goldson for hand ball and Union double their lead ?️ pic.twitter.com/2uNWAHNOjI
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) August 2, 2022
Goldson and Davies are booked for their protests.
68 Mins: Double change from van Bronckhorst for the final 20 minutes.
68′ SUB: A double change for Rangers.
➡️ ON: Yilmaz & Davies
⬅️ OFF: Barisic & JackUSG 1-0 Rangers | #UCL pic.twitter.com/cNTrwaJZes
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies come on with Ryan Kent and Barisic heading off.
60 Mins: OFF THE POST FOR UNION!!!
Seconds after Simon Adingra headed a great chance wide, Union launch another wave of attacks, and the overlapping Bart Nieuwkoop’s bullet clips the post!!
58 Mins: Rangers frustration is starting to show as we tick towards the hour mark with Connor Goldson’s clipped pass to Tavernier drifting out of play for a Union throw in.
55 Mins: AS MONACO 1 PSV EINDHOVEN 1
The winners of this two-legged tie will face either Monaco or PSV in the Play Off Round with Axel Disasi’s late goal securing a first leg draw for the hosts at the Stade Louis II.
50 Mins: Rangers are starting the second half in the same way as the first period with van Bronckhorst’s side dominating possession……but can they find a breakthrough?
46 Mins: WE ARE BACK IN BELGIUM!!
HALF TIME: UNION SAINT-GILLOISE 1 RANGERS 0
Union deservedly have the lead at the break as Rangers look off the pace so far in Belgium.
Despite a bright start from Gio van Bronckhorst’s side at Den Dreef, Teuma’s neat finish is the difference between the two sides at the break, with the Dutch boss in need of a spark in the second 45.
HALF-TIME: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0 Rangers
? Follow the second-half live in our Match Hub.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
39 Mins: Union are still posing a threat in attack, but Rangers are looking to get back into it before the break, as Irfan Peljto is booked for a foul on James Sands.
33 Mins: Almost a second for Union as Vanzeir pops up at the back post but his header drops wide of the post.
28 Mins: GOALLLLLLL FOR UNION!!!
The Belgians have grown into the contest in the last ten minutes and they get their reward!!
? 26’ | Notre capi @teddyteuma propulse le ballon au fond ! 1-0 pour nos Unionistes ! #USGRAN #DeBXLlafierté pic.twitter.com/Vyo3SgpM9O
— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) August 2, 2022
Rangers fail to clear another Union break and Teddy Teuma keeps his calm to fire a historic goal past McLaughlin!!!
*Video only available in the UK
Teuma breaks the deadlock and gives Union Saint-Gilloise their first European goal in 58 years ?
Work to do for Rangers ? pic.twitter.com/TGlqe3GJim
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) August 2, 2022
24 Mins: HUGE CHANCE FOR UNION!!
The ‘home’ side should be in front!!
25′ Opportunity for the home side from a quick counter-attack, Vanzeir sends an effort just wide.
USG 0-0 Rangers | #UCL
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
A quick break in behind catches out the Rangers back line but Dante Vanzeir scuffs the cut back wide from close range!!
21 Mins: First chance for the hosts as Jean Lazare Amani steps forward from midfield but his strike is wide of Jon McLaughlin’s post.
15 Mins: It has been all Rangers so far with Malik Tillman’s long range effort gathered in by Moris.
However, Union Saint-Gilloise have slowly edged their way into the contest up against their Scottish visitors.
10 Mins: BIG CHANCE FOR RANGERS!!
Barisic takes over free kick duties on the edge of the box but Anthony Moris gets down superbly to tip behind for a corner.
The Union Saint-Gilloise keeper could be in for a busy evening!!
? TEAM pic.twitter.com/fj5ZFAcPeb
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
5 Mins: Rangers looking to set the early tempo here as James Tavernier’s free kick is cleared by the hosts defence before Borna Barisic’s corner is headed away.
KICK OFF: WE ARE UNDERWAY AT DEN DREEF!!!
⏰ KICK-OFF: We are underway at Den Dreef.
Come on #RangersFC ?
? Follow the match live in our Match Hub: https://t.co/03l6NFl5Nr pic.twitter.com/b5o9bxOmWp
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
15 Mins: Rangers are ALL SET for KO in Belgium!!
The Scottish side have an excellent record against Belgian teams with 8 wins from ten games against Belgian opposition in European competition.
Come on #RangersFC ? pic.twitter.com/SceyN0A2sP
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
They won home and away against Standard Liege and Antwerp in the 2020/21 Europa League.
45 Mins to KO: Union Saint-Gilloise TEAM NEWS confirmed
⚡ ???????? ?? ⚡
?? Voici nos Unionistes pour ce retour en Europe ! Ben je er klaar voor?#USGRAN #DeBXLlafierté pic.twitter.com/shaxhnxPU8
— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) August 2, 2022
1 Hr to KO: TEAM NEWS IS IN!!!
Rangers have a strong line up for this tricky trip to Belgium with experienced trio John Lundstrum, James Tavernier and Glen Kamara all starting.
? Tonight’s #RangersFC team to face @UnionStGilloise.
?️ Full Team News: https://t.co/2sNpBm035w pic.twitter.com/8PTMbKTSzW
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 2, 2022
Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Rangers lineups
Union Saint-Gilloise field their strongest available side as they push for a first ever Champions League group stage spot.
Union Saint-Gilloise starting lineup (3-5-2): Moris (GK) — Van Der Heyden, Burgess, Sykes — Lapoussin, Teuma, Lynen, Amani, Nieuwkoop — Vanzeir, Adingra.
Union Saint-Gilloise subs (9): Pirard (GK), El Azzouzi, Puertas, Machida, Dony, Boone, Francois, Ziani, Huygevelde.
Van Bronckhorst is still without key pair Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos for this tie but they could be back in time for the second leg in Glasgow.
Rangers starting lineup (4-2-3-1): McLaughlin (GK) — Barisic, Sands, Goldson, Tavernier — Lundstrum, Kamara — Tillman, Matondo, Jack — Colak.
Rangers subs (11): McGregor (GK), McCrorie, Ridvan, Davies, King, Devine, Davis, Lawrence, Arfield, Wright, Fashion Jr.
MORE: UEFA Champions League teams in 2022/23 competition
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