Summary

  • Gerrard's Rangers beat Maribor 3-1 on aggregate

  • Slovenes miss stoppage-time penalty

  • Hibs out after losing 3-0 in Molde

  • Get involved #bbcsportscot

  1. On to the play-offspublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    And then there was two... Of Scotland's four European representatives, it's Celtic and Rangers who are still standing.

    They go into the Europa League play-offs next week, with Russian side FC Ufa coming to Ibrox and Suduva of Lithuania hosting Celtic.

    Brendan Rodgers' side must get over the disappointment of Tuesday's Champions League exit quickly, while their Glasgow rivals will be in confident mood after making an experienced side like Maribor look very ordinary on their own patch.

    We'll have those games covered, so join us then and thanks for your company this evening.

  2. Haland gives Molde 'cutting edge'published at 21:27 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: Molde 3-0 Hibernian (3-0)

    Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is full of praise for two-goal teenager Erling Braut Haland.

    "It was a hard fought game, very even. Hibs hit the post twice and if one of those goes in, you never know. I think it was a 50-50 game but we had that little bit extra in front of goal with Haland.

    "He has everything. He can head it, he holds the ball up. He's got pace, energy. He runs and runs for the team and spreads so much enthusiasm. We are a different team with him, he brings a cutting edge."

    Haland missed the first leg to have talks with RB Salzburg and is sure to be interesting clubs all over Europe.

  3. Lennon rues Hibs' inexperience after Molde defeatpublished at 21:23 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: Molde 3-0 Hibernian

    Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon has spoken to BBC Scotland about his side's earlier 3-0 defeat in Molde, which ended their Europa League run

    "I think the scoreline certainly flatters Molde. It certainly wasn't a 3-0 game. The second goal was the ice-breaker really.

    "After half-time we looked in the ascendancy and missed a couple of great chances to take it to 1-1 and that would have changed the psychology and complexity of the tie completely.

    "We lacked a bit of experience at times - you could see that - but I am very proud of the players and what they have given. I always want to win, but I can't have everything in life.

    "We just ran out of puff towards the end which is understandable, but we had to try to get a goal somehow. But that 15-20 minute spell in the second half when we were on top, we really should have equalized.

    "We have missed an opportunity there, as we missed an opportunity in Edinburgh as well. Martin Boyle has got round the back and just had a brain-freeze, and then flashed one back across the goal.

    "We have created chances against a very good side, in the first half as well. We just lacked that little bit of oomph. Especially away from home, you need to take your chances.

    "I am disappointed we have conceded from a set-play and for their second goal, we really should have taken Hasted out. We have got to learn that in European football, you take a foul, take the yellow card. But we didn't do that and it cost us in the end."

    Neil Lennon rues Hibs' defeat in MoldeImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Neil Lennon was left to reflect on a defeat which ruined Hibs' hopes of winning three successive European ties for a first time

  4. Hibs 'only have themselves to blame'published at 21:18 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: Molde 3-0 Hibernian (3-0)

    Michael Stewart
    Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    “For me it was never a 3-0 game if you look at the balance of play. But if you defend poorly and don’t take your chances, you don’t get what you deserve. Hibs passed up some very good chances – Jamie Maclaren really should have put that chance away at a vital stage, and Martin Boyle has the ability to slot the ball home from where he was. Hibs have been punished for not taking their chances and defensively it is very poor. They were clearly caught out on the counter on the second goal but someone should have got a block in. Because of the Astroturf, I don’t think they had a real footing and sometimes the ball would slip past them. Neil Lennon will be very frustrated. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is making the players aware that was a really good opportunity for Hibs to progress to the play-off and the group stage and they only have themselves to blame.

    Hibs conceded three goals to Molde in NorwayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Hibs conceded three goals to Molde in Norway to drop out of the Europa League

  5. Postpublished at 21:13 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Allan McGregor made two top saves to deny Marcos Tavares but there was more to the experienced Scotland goalie's performance than that. He came from crosses with authority all night and he was pretty adept at wasting time too...

    Allan McGregor stops a close-range shot from Marcos TavaresImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Allan McGregor stops a close-range shot from Marcos Tavares

  6. McGregor makes a differencepublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Michael Stewart
    Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    The presence of McGregor puts the whole team at ease and confidence grows from that

  7. FULL-TIME NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)published at 21:06 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    Rangers go through to the play-off round where FC Ufa wait.

    It was pretty straightforward really, with Steven Gerrard's side very well organised all over the park and putting in a real shift.

    Allan McGregor's late penalty save makes it three away games in this competition without conceding a goal.

  8. MISSED PENALTYpublished at 90+1 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Marcos Tavares goes for power down the middle but he can't get past Allan McGregor, who sticks out his legs to deny the Brazilian again.

  9. PENALTYpublished at 90 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Soft... Connor Goldson has a wee nibble and the hosts have a spot-kick.

  10. YELLOW CARD - Scott Arfield (Rangers)published at 88 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Booking number five for the visitors as Scott Arfield snaps into his 750th tackle of the evening - a fraction late...

  11. Rangers on the verge of progresspublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Alasdair Lamont
    BBC Sport Scotland in Maribor

    Rangers are edging ever closer to a place in the Europa League play-off round and the natives in Maribor are growing increasingly restless. They are furious at what they see as time-wasting tactics by Rangers but Steven Gerrard’s men are seeing the closing stages out very professionally.

  12. Postpublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Rangers are the brighter side now as Maribor begin to look as if they have thrown in the towel.

    Manager Steven Gerrard will be enjoying this.

    Steven GerrardImage source, SNS
  13. Postpublished at 79 mins

    NKMaribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Former Fiorentina striker Jan Mlakar is on for the last 10 minutes or so, taking over from Jasmin Mesanovic. Can the 19-year-old rattle what has been a very well drilled Rangers defence?

  14. Postpublished at 75 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Jamie Murphy has run himself into the ground for the Rangers cause and now he's replaced by Ross McCrorie, who will slot into central midfield and help shield the defence.

    Ryan Kent took over from Ovie Ejeria when I was wittering on about Zenit St Petersburg.

  15. YELLOW CARD - Jamie Murphy (Rangers)published at 74 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    It's a fourth booking of the night for the visitors as Jamie Murphy breaks up a Maribor attack with a cynical challenge.

  16. Postpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Steven Thompson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    It's an incredible save from McGregor but it's a sitter for Tavares. He has to score from there.

  17. GREAT SAVE!published at 20:43 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    With the Rangers defence waiting for an offside decision that doesn't come, Marco Tavares collects a knock-down inside the six-yard box and takes aim only for Allan McGregor to fling up a leg and make a miraculous point-blank save.

  18. Zenit complete gr-eight comebackpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 16 August 2018

    FT: Molde 3-0 Hibs (3-0)

    For any Molde fans looking in, Zenit St Petersburg finished 8-1 winners against Dinamo Minsk after extra time for a remarkable 8-5 aggregate success.

    Maybe it's just as well Hibs bowed out this evening...

  19. Postpublished at 64 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    Rangers are caught napping a bit from a corner but Blaz Vrhovec can only send a free header over the top - followed by what looks like blistering barrage of swearing in Slovenian. The home side are getting more and more frustrated.

  20. Postpublished at 61 mins

    NK Maribor 0-0 Rangers (1-3)

    It's not been a great few minutes for Luka Zahovic as he has a wild swipe at the ball in front of goal and again Rangers get bodies in the way to clear.