Summary

  • Rangers led twice - through Morelos, then Patterson

  • Kent added third before Antwerp hauled it back to 3-2

  • Penalties by Barisic & Itten clinched last-16 place for second season in row

  1. Cheers for nowpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Right folks, that's all from me.

    Rangers bludgeoned their way into the last 16 of the Europa League in emphatic style, scoring nine goals over two legs against a side sitting second in the Belgian league.

    We'll find out their next opponents tomorrow lunchtime.

  2. 'Patterson must learn from second chance'published at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Of course, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was asked about Nathan Patterson, who scored almost as soon as he was put on for the start of the second half, having recently broken Covid-19 regulations by attending a party.

    "It's been quite a week for him," Gerrard tells BT Sport. "It could be the biggest learning curve of that boy's career. He's a fantastic kid and he comes from a lovely family. He needs to understand what the people at this club think of him and the opportunity he's got. He's a wonderful footballer with a big future.

    "Learn form this and make sure it doesn't happen again. As someone who has kids myself, I want to be someone who gives people a second chance."

  3. 'No need for Rangers to fear anyone'published at 20:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

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  4. 'All-round quality' from Morelospublished at 20:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is also full of praise for Alfredo Morelos, who was involved in eight of the nine goals over both legs.

    "It was probably Alfredo's best performance of the season," he tells BT Sport. "He likes this competition. I wouldn't have liked to have marked him, that's for sure. Physicality is a big strength of his. It was a performance off all-round quality."

  5. 'Some of our play was outstanding'published at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5 agg)

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard tells BT Sport: "I'm very satisfied, the performance was outstanding in a lot of areas.

    "Some of our play was outstanding, the first three were top high-level goals. But, as a perfectionist, we still have to look at the areas we went wrong in tonight."

  6. Who's next for Rangers?published at 20:28 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Rangers will discover their last 16 opponents tomorrow, with the draw beginning at midday.

    It's not seeded.

    Tottenham and Arsenal are already through, while Manchester United are well on their way, along with AC Milan and Roma.

    Shakhtar Donetsk, Ajax, Villarreal, Molde and Granada are in the hat from today's earlier starts.

    There are a few ties still in the balance but we'll know the full line up later tonight.

  7. 'Probably a step too far'published at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Peter Lovenkrands
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Rangers are in a better place than they were last year. They can’t get carried away though, some of the teams left are amazing teams. Winning the Europa League is probably a step too far for Rangers right now, but this is football and you never know.

  8. Fortress Ibroxpublished at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Rangers have won 19 of their 20 home games this season in all competitions (drawing with Benfica in the group stage), scoring 57 goals and conceding nine.

  9. Goals, goals, goalspublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Euro tidbit alert... This was the highest-scoring Uefa Cup / Europa League tie since Helsingborgs edged out Heerenveen 8-6 in the 2007-08 first round.

  10. Young gun Patterson makes his markpublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Aged 19 years and 132 days, Nathan Patterson is the youngest player to score as a substitute in a European group or knockout tie for Rangers since Ross McCormack v Porto in the Champions League in November 2005.

    Nathan PattersonImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Patterson scored 16 seconds into the second half

  11. Patterson will be free to play in Europepublished at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    The last 16 ties are played on 11 & 18 March.

    Leon Balogun is suspended for the first leg after his booking this evening.

    Nathan Patterson, along with Bongani Zungu and Calvin Bassey, is facing a probable ban for his Covid-19 breach but that will not apply to Uefa competitions - if captain James Tavernier is still injured by then.

  12. 'We were ruthless' - Kentpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5 agg)

    Rangers winger Ryan Kent tells BT Sport: "We entered the game with a lot of energy and we knew we could catch them on counter.

    "We were ruthless. There's a lot of emphasis on the front three to create opportunities.

    "In recent weeks I've been disappointing in the final third. The end product hasn't been there, but in the last couples games I've managed to put them away."

    On tomorrow's draw, Kent adds: "We want to go further than last season, we're not happy just to compete. We'll take anyone. Why not?"

    Ryan KentImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Kent celebrates Rangers' third goal of the night

  13. Which English clubs are still standing?published at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    Well, Arsenal and Tottenham are through, while Manchester United are as good as in the hat after a 4-0 first leg win. Leicester City host Slavia Prague later on, with that tie goalless.

  14. 'Battle of Britain next, please'published at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Peter Lovenkrands
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    I would love for Rangers to get an English team in the next round; to see where the two leagues are against each other

  15. Tavernier misses out on penalty haulpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    FT: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)

    Charlie Adam
    Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    James Tavernier will be sitting in the house thinking that's four goals he could've had over two legs!

  16. FULL-TIME Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)published at 90+3 mins

    We have been treated to seven goals in each leg of this tie, with Rangers more comfortable winners this time.

    Steven Gerrard's side are into the last 16 of the Europa League for the second year running.

  17. goal

    GOAL Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp (9-5)published at 90+2 mins

    Cedric Itten (pen)

    Cedric Itten goes straight down the middle and the ball finds the net after nicking the goalie's trailing leg.

    Rangers goalImage source, SNS
  18. PENALTY TO RANGERSpublished at 90+1 min

    Rangers 4-2 Royal Antwerp (8-5)

    Scott Wright is hauled down by a defender clambering all over his back.

  19. Stoppage timepublished at 90 mins

    Rangers 4-2 Royal Antwerp (8-5)

    We're going into three minutes of added time.

    Still time for a couple of goals, surely?

  20. 'Full-backs key for Rangers set-pieces'published at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2021

    Rangers 4-2 Royal Antwerp (8-5)

    Peter Lovenkrands
    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    A modern day full-back has to be so good technically. That’s why Barisic and Tavernier are so crucial to Rangers when they have set-pieces. Penalties, free kicks or corners and we’re only going to see more of it in the game. It really was a great penalty from Barisic

    Rangers celebrate after Borna Barisic's third successful penalty in this tieImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Rangers celebrate after Borna Barisic's third successful penalty in this tie