Rangers ride luck to take control of Red Star tie with emphatic first-leg win

Rangers 3-0 Red Star Belgrade: The hosts will take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie

James Tavernier celebrates Rangers’ opener (Jane Barlow/PA). (PA Wire)

Rangers put themselves firmly in the driving seat of their Europa League last-16 tie against Red Star Belgrade following an incident-packed 3-0 win at Ibrox.

Gers skipper James Tavernier slotted home a VAR-awarded penalty in the 11th minute of a remarkable first half and striker Alfredo Morelos doubled the lead with a driven shot four minutes later before Light Blues goalkeeper Allan McGregor brilliantly saved an Aleksandar Katai penalty.

Katai had put the ball in the net twice in the first half, only to be thwarted by the offside flag, but he and his team-mates were again left shaking their heads in the 51st minute when defender Leon Balogun, back in for Borna Barisic, powered in a header from a Tavernier corner.

The Scottish champions continued to ride a second-half rollercoaster to the final whistle and can now look forward to the second leg next week at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, where the possibility of an appearance in the last eight of a European competition for the first time in 14 years beckons.

The Serbians, however, will feel sure they must enjoy better fortunes than they endured on a remarkable night in Glasgow.

Ibrox could hardly have witnessed a more exhilarating first half to a European tie.

The match began with, among other things, two early Gers goals, one from a controversial penalty, as well as a home penalty save.

Red Star midfielder Katai had the ball in the Rangers net from the edge of the area in the third minute but the offside flag was up.

A VAR check five by Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk five minutes later puzzled most of the stadium, but there was a huge cheer from the Gers supporters when he pointed to the spot, judging Slavoljub Srnic to have clipped Ryan Kent as he drove into the box.

Tavernier, who had scored home and away from the spot against Borussia Dortmund in the play-offs, guided his penalty high past fellow captain Milan Borjan.

Two minutes later, as Red Star responded and Rangers hesitated, Katai again had the ball in the net, only to see the offside flag up once more.

Instead, Morelos slammed in a second at the other end when the ball broke to him 14 yards out after Ryan Jack’s cross into the area had been headed away by defender Strahinja Erakovic.

It was breathless stuff.

The visitors were awarded a penalty when Jack tugged Mirko Ivanic inside the area, but McGregor threw himself to his right to push away Katai’s well-struck shot.

It was all going the way of the Scottish champions and they could have added a third in the 41st minute, but midfielder Glen Kamara fired just over the bar from 12 yards after good work by Kent and defender Calvin Bassey.

Seconds later, as play raged from end to end, McGregor saved from Ohi Omoijuanfo’s sliding effort and Morelos’s low drive from long range was smothered by Borjan.

The second half continued in the same manner, with play stretched as both sides pushed forward, and further bedlam ensured in the stand when Balogun’s thumping header from Tavernier’s corner flew past Borjan.

Opportunities for more goals presented themselves to Rangers as a frantic second half wore on, with defender Connor Goldson’s header cleared off the line by Aleksandar Dragovic in the 70th minute.

The visitors retained a sense of menace but their luck remained absent.

When Guelor Kanga beat McGregor with a swerving drive from 25 yards the ball rebounded off the bar and the home side eventually emerged unscathed. –

Red star substitute El Fardou Ben Nabouhane had the ball in the net in the 83rd minute, but he too was ruled offside and the Gers held out to take a major step towards the next round.