Rangers will need to overturn a one-goal deficit at Ibrox next week after a disappointing defensive display saw them beaten 2-1 by Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie in Poland.
Derek McInnes, taking charge of his first European fixture since becoming Rangers manager, saw his side make the perfect start when Jagiellonia defender Guilherme Montoia turned a Tuur Rommens cross into his own net after just four minutes. The goal came after Rommens linked up well with midfielder Mohamed Diomande down the left flank, with his cross missed by striker Youssef Chermiti before deflecting in off the unfortunate home defender from close range.
Chermiti almost doubled the advantage moments later, forcing a save from Jagiellonia goalkeeper Slawomir Abramowicz with a strike from distance in the 10th minute. At that stage, Rangers appeared firmly in control of the tie.
However, the visitors' lead did not last. In the 13th minute, Kajetan Szmyt curled a shot from the edge of the box that appeared to carry little immediate danger, only for it to sail past Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and into the far corner. The goal proved to be the turning point of the match, shifting momentum firmly in the home side's favour.
Jagiellonia struck again in the 21st minute following further lapses at the back for Rangers. A cutout ball from Thelo Aasgaard was intercepted, sparking a rapid counter-attack. Nik Prelec's cross into the box caused problems as defender Emmanuel Fernandez slipped, allowing Jesus Imaz a clear sight of goal. Pandur got a hand to the effort, parrying it away, but Szmyt was quickest to react, firing home the rebound for his second of the game.
Rangers were fortunate not to fall further behind before the interval. In the 37th minute, a poor clearance from Dujon Sterling allowed Rodrigo Conceicao space to run at goal, but his effort clipped the side netting despite better options available inside the box. Prelec then saw a shot saved by Pandur, who also denied Norbert Wojtuszek in the closing stages of the first half.
McInnes responded at the break with a triple substitution, introducing Cammy Devlin, Nico Raskin and Findlay Curtis in place of Dan Neil, Tochi Chukwuani and second-half debutant Daisuke Yokota, who had come on for a brief cameo. The changes altered the complexion of the match, with Rangers dominating possession for long stretches of the second half.
Devlin was denied by a crowded box after being set up by Diomande in the 59th minute, while Curtis narrowly missed connecting with a Raskin delivery shortly after. Devlin then tested Abramowicz from 20 yards, only for the resulting corner to come to nothing. At the other end, Imaz spurned a good chance from 12 yards, missing the target completely.
Rangers continued to press for an equaliser in the closing stages. Abramowicz produced a save to deny Curtis before the substitute struck the post with a volley in stoppage time, summing up a frustrating night in which the visitors could not find a way through despite their late surge.
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg at Ibrox, where Rangers will look to overturn the deficit and progress to the next round.
Based on reporting from Independent (Football).