Rangers crashed out of all European competition after a dismal display against Jablonec saw them fail to reach the Conference League.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg at Ibrox last week, Derek McInnes’ side turned in a woeful performance in the Czech Republic which lacked creativity and invention, and it proved costly.
A half-time reboot, involving a move to a different shape and the introduction of skipper Lawrence Shankland, Connor Barron and Findlay Curtis, did little to improve their play and Jablonec midfielder Vakhtang Chanturishvili deservedly levelled the tie in the 73rd minute with a drive which took the game to 1-1 on aggregate, and into extra-time.
There were no more goals which brought penalties, and although Gers keeper Ivor Pandur saved from Filip Zorvan, Curtis fired his spot-kick over the bar and James Penrice was thwarted by Jablonec ‘keeper Jan Hanus, leaving Jan Chramosta to fire in the decisive kick.
The defeat is a huge blow to the Glasgow side, who were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok and whose massive rebuild under McInnes is struggling to get off the ground.
More to follow…
The key moments from the Stadion Strelnice
8: CHANCE! Jawo sends a cross into the box, Rangers fail to react but Suchan sends it wide.
13: WIDE! Jawo picks up the ball inside the box but somehow puts it past the post.
20: SAVE! Chukwuani rises to meet Penrice’s cross. His header is saved by Hanus.
28: SAVE! Rangers goalkeeper Ivan Pandur punches a cross clear. Jawo wins the ball and his header is then saved.
37: CHANCE! Rangers stand off Jablonec again, allowing Polidar to get a shot away from just inside the box.
49: SAVE! A well-worked corner from Jablonec finds Suchan at the back post. Pandur saves.
51: BLOCK! Shankland is in the right position to meet Naderi’s cross, but his effort is blocked.
74: GOAL JABLONEC! Chanturishvili picks up a loose ball, turns and smashes the ball past Pandur.
85: CHANCE! Rangers switch off again as Jablonec take a quick free-kick. It falls to Nebyla, who fires well off target.
90+2: CORNER! Good defending by Makhanya as he sends Chanturishvili’s effort past for a corner.
97: CHANCE! Rusek takes aim from distance. It flies wide, but Jablonec are at least having a go!
107: JUST WIDE! Chramosta drags an effort just wide of the post for the hosts.
117: BIG SAVE! Fernandez is slow to react, but Pandur gets down to deny Novak.
119: OVER! Shankland gets his head to Aasgaard’s ball into the box, but it’s deflected over the bar.
JABLONEC WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES!
Rangers’ next fixtures…
