RANGERS under-19’s progressed to the next round of the UEFA Youth League this evening with a 5-1 aggregate victory against Hammarby.
Robbie Ure and Ross McCausland were both on target as Rangers won the second-leg 2-1 in Stockholm this evening.
The Light Blues headed into the match with a 3-0 advantage from the first-leg three weeks ago but faced a difficult challenge against the Swedish champions.
Played at the impressive Tele2 Arena, home of Hammarby’s first-team in the Allsvenskan, it was another fantastic European challenge for the young side.
David McCallum named two changes from the first-leg with Alex Lowry and Lewis McKinnon coming in in place of Kyle McClelland and Robbie Ure.
The hosts were looking for an early opportunity to get themselves back in this tie and were denied by Jay Hogarth as the Gers keeper blocked an effort from Marcus Tastekin.
Tekin Olgun came close to a breakthrough for the Swedish side in the 30th minute as his shot bounced back off the post before the danger was cleared by Rangers.
The young Gers began to settle into the match and had their first opportunity shortly after as Tony Weston drilled a powerful low effort towards goal which forced Nils Björklund into a save as he pushed it wide for a Rangers corner.
However, the hosts were still proving a threat as Jay Hogarth was called into action again to deny Marcus Tastekin.
Goalless at the break, Hammarby came out in the second-half looking for a breakthrough as Ahmet Tuhral saw a shot held comfortably by Jay Hogarth, before Tekin Olgun fired just over the bar.
Rangers broke shortly after as Tony Weston used his pace to drive down the right before picking out Ross McCausland in the box but the Northern Ireland international couldn’t keep his effort on target as it drifted over the bar.
It was Rangers who got the breakthrough as Robbie Ure made an instant impact coming off the bench.
The Light Blues caught Hammarby on the break as Robbie Fraser drove down the left-wing before picking out the run of Ure. The striker's first effort hit the feet of Nils Björklund before bouncing back off the post but the 17-year-old was alert to head home the rebound.
Rangers were forced into a change with 20 minutes of the match remaining as Leon King had to be taken off on a stretcher and was replaced by Greig Allen.
The Swedish side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, which William Axelsson stepped up to take. He curled an effort into the top corner of the net to deny Rangers.
At the other end, Adam Devine had a shot saved by the fingertips of the Hammarby goalkeeper as the Light Blues searched for an instant response.
In injury time, Rangers took the lead as Ross McCausland cut inside from the left to curl a shot across the keeper and into the back of the net.
Rangers will now face Septemvri of Bulgaria in the next round of the competition.
RANGERS: Hogarth, Fraser, King (Allen, 73), MacKinnon, Devine, Miller, McKinnon, Lindsay (Allan, 89), McCausland, Weston (Ure, 61), Lowry (Lyall, 89).
Subs: Budinauckas, Allen, Strachan, Allan, Lyall, Wilson.
Hammarby: Bjorklund, Beko, Hedin, Karlsson, Engdhal, Tuhral, Axelsson, Gebrezegi, Mohammed, Tastekin (Sluug, 79), Olgun.
Subs: Georgis, Lindahl, Bofua, Dawlat, Odenlind, Mahachai Kallman
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