Balogun on target , Aribo and Bassey feature as Rangers take 3-0 lead to Red Star Belgrade

Published: March 10, 2022

Scottish Premiership side Glasgow Rangers have been handed a boost in their bid to progress to the quarterfinals of the Europa League after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade at Ibrox Stadium on Thursday night.

There were starts for four players of Nigerian descent, with Super Eagles invitees Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo on the pitch from the very first minute while one-cap Norway international Ohi Omoijuanfo started from the off for the visitors.

In an extremely lively first half, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side were two goals up inside sixteen minutes as
James Tavernier converted a penalty to open the scoring, before Alfredo Morelos found the net.

The Serbians could have been a goal up at halftime but the lively Aleksandar Katai had two goals disallowed for narrow offside decisions after lengthy VAR reviews and Allan McGregor brilliantly saved a penalty kick taken by the number 10.

Rangers had a third goal five minutes into the second half as Balogun rose highest to nod in a header after a brilliant delivery from Tavernier.

Aribo was walking a disciplinary tightrope after he was shown a yellow card on the half hour mark for a rough foul on Guelor Kanga and had to make way for Fashion Sakala, a Zambia international, with a quarter of an hour of normal time left.

Red Star had the ball in the back of the net for the third time in the game in the 85th minute but they were denied by the offside flag.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : uefa.com

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