Leon Balogun scores again as Rangers hit Brondby 2-0
Just few days after he delivered his first goal for Super Eagles, Rangers defender Leon Balogun was again a delight to watch on Thursday as his firs half goal helped Rangers with a 2-0 win over Brondby.
Balogun and Kemar Roofe saw Rangers beat Brondby 2-0 at Ibrox to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Rangers had lost their opening two Group A matches, making this a vital clash for Steven Gerrard’s side, who made the perfect start when Balogun’s powerful header gave them an 18th-minute lead.
Things got even better on the half-hour mark when Roofe tapped home after Alfredo Morelos’ close-range header had been saved, although Rangers needed the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee to confirm that goal after it had initially been ruled out by the referee’s assistant.
As a result, Rangers have moved up to third in the group at the halfway stage, a point behind Sparta Prague in second ahead of their return meeting at Brondby on November 4.
Gerrard had labelled this a must-win encounter and that is exactly what his team did after a thoroughly professional display at Ibrox that keeps alive their hopes of playing European football in the second half of the season.
It helped that the home team went ahead early on when Balogun escaped his marker to meet James Tavernier’s inviting corner from the right, taken by the Rangers captain despite being showered with objects thrown by the visiting Brondby fans situated in that part of the ground.
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Tavernier had the last laugh, though, as Balogun’s thumping header could not be kept out by Thomas Mikkelsen, despite the Brondby goalkeeper getting strong hands to the ball, and soon Rangers had doubled their lead.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Hearts on Saturday.
In came Steven Davis for the suspended Glen Kamara, while Kemar Roofe replacesd Scott Wright.