Late Unirea leveller thwarts Rangers

Rangers’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League remain intact despite the fact they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni here on Wednesday.

On a rain-soaked pitch both teams found it difficult to create many clear-cut opportunities but it was the Scottish champions who made the break-through in the 78th minute when Lee McCulloch’s drive from range beat Giedrius Arlauskis.

Walter Smith’s side looked on course for their first win of the competition until the 89th minute when substitute Marius Onofras lashed in an unstoppable shot to pull the Romanians level before Papac missed a sitter in injury time as Rangers failed to avenge their 4-1 thrashing at Ibrox.

Stuttgart’s draw with Sevilla, who have qualified for the next stage, leaves Rangers bottom of Group G on two points but Unirea are only three points above them in the second qualifying berth.

“When you are 1-0 up with only minutes to go then obviously you should hold onto the win so that would be a disappointment from our own point of view, more than any other aspect,” said Smith.

“Each of the teams had chances to score so there is no problem with the result except for the fact we think we have given it away.”

Unirea manager Dan Petrescu said his side deserved to win.

“I don’t think the result was correct as we had the better chances to win today,” he said.”But the best team does not always win.”

Kevin Thomson was the first visiting player to test Arlauskis, who missed the match at Ibrox through injury.

His curling free-kick from 30 yards bounced just in front of the Lithuanian and he had to stretch to beat it away.

Steven Naismith came close to opening the scoring after 19 minutes when he met Kyle Lafferty’s cross from the right with a header that Arlauskis got down low to his left to smother.

Vasile Maftei nearly fired Unirea into the lead when he blasted in a fierce free-kick from 25 yards which Allan McGregor saw late but managed to get away.

McGregor then had to produce a finger-tip save from Sorin Frunza, whose shot in the box took a wicked deflection off Wilson.

Just as he did at Ibrox, Unirea coach Dan Petrescu made an early tactical change when Balan was replaced by Marius Onofras and the substitute tried his luck with an audacious long-range lob that crashed into the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time Lafferty, making his first European start, saw his curling effort go inches wide of the post after Kenny Miller had played him in.

Miller blew a golden chance to put Rangers ahead on the hour mark when Davis picked him out in the box but the Scotland international’s weak effort went straight to Arlauskis.

Serban Varga beat the offside trap in the 75th but he could only blast his half-volley straight at McGregor.

The Rangers keeper was in fine form and did well to hold onto a fierce dipping shot from Marius Bilasco, who lashed in a volley from the edge of the box.

A poor clearance from McCulloch presented Bilasco with his opening but it was the former Wigan Athletic man who gave Rangers the lead in the 78th minute.

He fired in a fierce dipping shot from 25 yards which bounced in front of Arlauskis and took a touch off his hands before heading high into the top of the net.

Rangers had barely time to celebrate before Champions League debutant Danny Wilson was called to head an Onofras shot off the line but he popped up ten minutes later to break Rangers hearts.

Bilasco laid the ball off to him and he took a touch before sending a rocket past McGregor from 20 yards out into the top corner.

In injury time Papac found himself unmarked at the back post from a corner but he sent his shot wide of the post.