Report: Gers Draw With Brondby Away

RANGERS dug out what could be a valuable Europa League point away to Brondby tonight thanks to a late equaliser from Ianis Hagi.

Trailing to Leon Balogun’s own-goal, sub Hagi netted 13 minutes from time for a share of the spoils.

Boss Gerrard named just the one change for tonight’s match at the impressive Brondby Stadium with Borna Barisic coming in for Calvin Bassey.

That meant it was a back five of Allan McGregor in goal with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Barisic in front of him.

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041121 Brondby v Rangers, Team 87

Scott Arfield, Steven Davis and Glen Kamara were in midfield, while up front, Joe Aribo and Fashion Jr played in support of Alfredo Morelos.

The manager was also able to name 11 substitutes for this one, with Ryan Kent making a return from injury there.

Gers thought they had the lead inside six minutes as from the second phase on a corner, Morelos headed home. The offside flag went against him, however, with the decision confirmed by VAR.

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041121 Brondby v Rangers, Morelos 96

Morelos then had another opportunity, shooting over after doing well to bring a Barisic cross under control before Fashion Jr shot wide from an angle after being released by Aribo.

Davis had a drive from distance go wide as the visitors threatened once again, while Morelos had a shot just off target from the edge of the area as Arfield pressed well from midfield to get the ball on to the Colombian.

At the other end, Goldson made a fine challenge to prevent Simon Hedlund from getting a shot away as he entered the area, while Aribo headed a Tavernier free-kick delivery over for Rangers.

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041121 Brondby v Rangers, Arfield 102

Goldson then had a header cleared off the line and Morelos saw the follow-up gathered in the air by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Right on the stroke of half-time, however, the hosts took the lead with Leon Balogun turning the ball into his own net on the end of a Christian Cappis corner.

McGregor prevented a second home goal with a fine front-post save from Kevin Mensah, before Gerrard made a triple sub on the 56th minute as Kent, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi replaced Fashion Jr, Morelos and Arfield.

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041121 Brondby v Rangers, Kent 121

Hermansen saved well at the feet of Roofe as he and Hagi combined for a chance, while Kent had a decent drive deflected behind and Balogun, on the volley inside the area, could only shoot straight at Hermansen.

The deserved equaliser for Gers finally arrived on 77 minutes, with two of those aforementioned subs having the desired effect.

Ryan Kent picked up a loose ball in midfield and set course for goal. Ahead of him, Ianis Hagi’s movement to evade his defender was tremendous, and when Kent found the Romanian, he was in, and finished superbly into the bottom corner.

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041121 Brondby v Rangers, Hagi Goal 57

Roofe had an effort find the side netting with the last play of the game, but Gers will return to Glasgow tomorrow reasonably satisfied with their point to set up a mouthwatering clash with Sparta Prague at Ibrox in three weeks’ time.

RANGERS: McGregor,, Balogun, Barisic (Bassey, 81), Arfield (Hagi, 56), Davis (Bacuna, 72), Kamara, Aribo, Fashion Jr (Kent, 56), Morelos (Roofe, 56).

SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, McCrorie, Lundstram, Patterson, Wright, Kelly.

BRONDBY IF: Hermansen, Rosted, Maxso, Uhre (Greve, 75) Mensah, Bruus (Riveros, 63), Tshiembe, Frendrup, Radosevic, Cappis (Ben Slimane, 63), Hedlund (Pavlovic, 85).

SUBS: Mikkelsen, Gammelby, Heggheim,, Fellenius, Divkovic, Skipper, Singh, Borkeeiet.

REFEREE: Nikola Dabanovic.

ATTENDANCE: 20,462

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