Rangers earned a first away victory in the Europa League group stage under Steven Gerrard after Kemar Roofe’s outrageous halfway-line goal capped off a fine win in a rain-soaked Liege.
The Ibrox club rode their luck at times after James Tavernier’s 19th-minute penalty broke the deadlock.
Jackson Muleka twice headed against the bar in the first half and Standard pushed for a leveller after the break.
But Gerrard’s men held firm in front of more than 3,000 fans in Belgium.
Poland’s Lech Poznan travel to Glasgow next Thursday for the second game in the section, having started their campaign with a 4-2 home defeat by Benfica.
Match stats
- Rangers earned their second away win in 11 attempts in the Europa League (D5 L4).
- This was Standard’s first home defeat in Europe in 15 games since in December 2014.
- Since their last defeat in August against Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers have won 12 and drawn two.
- Tavernier is Rangers’ top scorer in all competitions this season with nine goals.
- Roofe has scored three goals in his last five games.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Standard Liege
- 16Bodart
- 21FaiSubstituted forCarcela-Gonzálezat 64′minutes
- 3Vanheusden
- 6DussenneBooked at 18minsSubstituted forJansat 78′minutes
- 24Gavory
- 20BokadiBooked at 82mins
- 22LestienneSubstituted forAvenatti Dovillabichusat 72′minutes
- 28BastienBooked at 66mins
- 8Cimirot
- 19AmallahSubstituted forCopat 72′minutes
- 17MulekaSubstituted forOularéat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gillet
- 7Cop
- 9Oularé
- 10Carcela-González
- 12Sylvestre
- 15Shamir
- 18Boljevic
- 25Avenatti Dovillabichus
- 27Jans
- 30Henkinet
- 33Pavlovic
- 34Laifis
Rangers
- 1McGregorBooked at 45mins
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Balogun
- 31BarisicSubstituted forBasseyat 43′minutesBooked at 66mins
- 37Arfield
- 8Jack
- 18Kamara
- 7HagiBooked at 26minsSubstituted forAriboat 67′minutes
- 20MorelosSubstituted forRoofeat 74′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 3Bassey
- 5Helander
- 10Davis
- 11Itten
- 16Patterson
- 17Aribo
- 21Barker
- 24Stewart
- 25Roofe
- 33McLaughlin
- 36Barjonas
- 61King
Live Text
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Match ends, Standard Liège 0, Rangers 2.
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Second Half ends, Standard Liège 0, Rangers 2.
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Kemar Roofe (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
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Goal! Standard Liège 0, Rangers 2. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from more than 35 yards to the centre of the goal.
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Foul by Connor Goldson (Rangers).
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Obbi Oularé (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Kent.
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Attempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Aribo.
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Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).
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Zinho Vanheusden (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Merveille Bokadi (Standard Liège) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Glen Kamara (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Merveille Bokadi (Standard Liège).
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Substitution, Standard Liège. Laurent Jans replaces Noe Dussenne.
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Offside, Standard Liège. Mehdi Carcela-González tries a through ball, but Felipe Nicolas Avenatti Dovillabichus is caught offside.
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Foul by Glen Kamara (Rangers).
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Zinho Vanheusden (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Glen Kamara (Rangers).
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Samuel Bastien (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Merveille Bokadi.
