Rangers Exit Conference League After Jablonec Shootout Defeat

Rangers have been eliminated from the UEFA Conference League after losing a penalty shootout to Czech side Jablonec, ending their European campaign before the league phase. BBC Sport reported that Jablonec won Thursday’s play-off second leg 1-0 after extra time, making the aggregate score 1-1, before prevailing 4-3 on penalties at Stadion Střelnice. The reported attendance was 5,563.

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Rangers travelled with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg but did not extend it during a scoreless opening half. BBC Sport said Lamin Jawo passed up an early opportunity for Jablonec, while Tochi Chukwuani’s close-range header produced Rangers’ best attempt of the period and was saved.

Manager Derek McInnes made three half-time substitutions, introducing Findlay Curtis, Lawrence Shankland and Connor Barron. The change did not prevent Jablonec from creating the stronger second-half opportunities. Vakhtang Tchanturishvili broke through in the 73rd minute, scoring from a tight angle past goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to level the tie on aggregate.

Neither team found another goal in normal time, and Jablonec continued to have the better chances during the additional 30 minutes, according to the BBC report. That sent the contest to a shootout, where Rangers initially gained an advantage after Filip Zorvan’s penalty was saved. Jablonec ultimately recovered despite that setback.

Shankland, Bojan Miovski and Thelo Aasgaard converted their kicks for Rangers. However, Curtis and James Penrice missed the visitors’ final two attempts. Jan Chramosta then scored Jablonec’s decisive penalty, completing the 4-3 shootout victory and sending the Czech club through.

The defeat means Rangers will have no further European fixtures this season. BBC Sport noted that this is the first time in nine years that the Glasgow club will be without European football beyond August. McInnes, who was appointed in June, accepted responsibility after the exit and described himself as mortified by the result. Rangers now return to domestic competition, with an away Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen scheduled for Sunday.