Ianis Hagi denies Brondby to keep Rangers’ destiny in their own hands

A second-half goal from the substitute Ianis Hagi gave Rangers a crucial Europa League draw with Brondby in Denmark, to the relief of Leon Balogun.

The visitors’ centre-back had headed into his own net after a corner in the final seconds of the first half after Steven Gerrard’s side had squandered several chances. It was the home side’s first goal of the group stages, but Rangers increased the tempo in the second period and Hagi’s fine finish in the 77th minute from a pass from his fellow substitute Ryan Kent gave them a point that keeps them in third place in Group A, level on four points with Sparta Prague.

The Scottish champions have to face the Czech side at home and travel to the leaders, Lyon, in their final two fixtures so still have work to do to reach the knockout stages, but how they needed this result in Denmark.

The Premiership leaders went into the game boosted by a 6-1 win at Motherwell on Sunday. Fashion Sakala, who scored a hat-trick at Fir Park, kept his place but Gerrard brought in the left-back Borna Barisic for Calvin Bassey as Kent returned to the bench for the first time since picking up a hamstring injury in September.

The Danish champions had their goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and top scorer Mikael Uhre both back from injury, but Rangers might have scored three times in the first nine minutes.

View image in fullscreen

Alfredo Morelos headed into the net from a James Tavernier corner in the fifth minute, but the ball had gone out before it reached the Colombia striker. Morelos fired a shot over the bar after controlling a Barisic cross inside the box before Sakala drove a shot wide after racing through the middle.

The home side worked themselves into the game and the Rangers goal survived a couple of anxious moments. However, it was still the visitors who looked the more likely to break the deadlock, with Morelos, Connor Goldson and Joe Aribo all having efforts of various quality.

Then, with seconds remaining in the first half, a Josip Radosevic corner from the left was helped on by Christian Cappis and the ball came off the head of the hapless Balogun and went past the keeper Allan McGregor to change the complexion of the match.

Rangers’ start to the second half was uninspiring and in the 53rd minute Kevin Tshiembe’s close-range shot was blocked by Scott Arfield for a corner which was defended uneasily.

Gerrard had seen enough and on came Kent, Kemar Roofe and Hagi for Morelos, Sakala and Arfield. Rangers stepped up the pressure and a powerful Balogun shot in the 61st minute went straight to Hermansen.

Steven Davis made way for Juninho Bacuna in the 71st minute, but it was Kent and Hagi who combined, with the latter firing low past Hermansen and into the far corner to equalise at last. With Bassey on for Barisic, both sides went looking for a winner, but after a frenetic ending had to settle for a point.

Hagi told BT Sport: “Our mentality should have been better from the beginning. We are Rangers and we have to come here and try to win, not wait until the second half to go out there and attack.”