Rangers progress in Champions League qualifying
Djeidi Gassama played the role of super sub as his goal booked Rangers' place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League after a 1-1 second leg draw with Panathinaikos.
After scoring Rangers' second goal in their first-leg triumph, Gassama netted a 60th-minute equaliser in the second leg on Thursday to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory in Athens.
But Russell Martin's team came under immense pressure from its opponent, with Jack Butland producing a stunning stop one-on-one to deny Facundo Pellistri early on.
Fotis Ioannidis was the next to test Butland with a fierce header before Pellistri squandered a golden chance from inside the penalty area, spooning his shot over the crossbar.
Rangers were able to survive that wave of pressure until eight minutes after the restart when Filip Djuricic's header from Tasos Bakasetas's cross squirmed past Butland.
Drurjic's effort was originally ruled out for offside, but after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was given, though Panathinaikos's ecstasy quickly turned to despair.
Just three minutes after replacing Findlay Curtis, Gassama thundered the ball home off the right post after Danilo's blocked effort fell kindly into the substitutes' path.
The host continued to push as Tete's cross narrowly evaded Ioannidis, before Cyriel Dessers failed to finish past Bartlomiej Dragowski late on, with Rangers holding on to reach the final round of qualifying for Europe's elite competition.
After introducing himself to the Rangers faithful with a stunning solo goal in the first leg, Gassama continued where he left off in this match with a brilliant display off the bench.
And that solidity at the back was largely down to Butland's display, with the 32 year-old making five crucial saves in the match, while defender John Souttar ended the encounter with a game-high number of clearances (12).
