Scott Arfield's finish secured passage for Rangers into the Europa League last 32 with a group game to spare
Rangers reached the Europa League last 32 for the second successive season, with a game to spare, after fighting back twice to defeat Standard Liege.
Steven Gerrard's side, so strong defensively this term, conceded from crosses on two occasions before the break when Maxime Lestienne, then Duje Cop, breached Allan McGregor's goal.
Connor Goldson's header, then a James Tavernier penalty, had Rangers on terms at the interval, before Scott Arfield's second-half strike ensured the win that keeps them top of the section.
Gerrard's team travel to Poland to face Lech next Thursday knowing they will win Group D if they match Benfica's result against Standard.
- Reaction & as it happened
Only a win would do for the Belgian visitors, who travelled to Ibrox with two wins from their previous 10 games.
And they were rewarded for a positive start after Cop beat Goldson on the left before guiding a low cross into the box for Lestienne to finish neatly.
Rangers just could not get into the attacking flow that had been key in guiding them to a 23-match unbeaten start to the campaign, as Standard continued to press and pose a greater threat.
However, as the game approached the half-hour mark, the hosts began to show signs of finding their rhythm.
Both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos tried their luck before Borna Barisic's outswinging corner was met by Goldson, who headed home superbly into Arnaud Bodart's top-right corner.
But just 46 seconds after getting themselves back into the game, Rangers found themselves behind again as Collins Fai's inch-perfect delivery from the right was bundled in by Cop, who clattered into the back post in the process.
The hosts responded well as Arfield lashed a volley over before Kemar Roofe's strike struck a hand in the Standard box, allowing Tavernier to convert his ninth spot-kick of the season just before the break.
Similar to the first period, the Belgian outfit were the brighter of the two in the opening stages of the second half as Allan McGregor - setting a news record of European appearances for Rangers - saved well from close range after Abdoul Tapsoba was slipped through on goal.
However, with the best move of the game, Rangers would take the lead for the first time as superb build-up resulted in Kent crossing low from the left to find Arfield steaming into the box to smash home from 12 yards.
The goal sparked the hosts into life, and they could have won the game by more if it not for some outstanding saves from Bodart in the Standard goal.
The goalkeeper was forced into a series of fantastic stops from free-kicks by Tavernier and Barisic, before saving another Goldson header and a close-range effort from Roofe.
The win extends the Ibrox club's unbeaten run to 24 games and next Thursday they have the opportunity to top the group if they can match second-placed Benfica's result.
Man of the match - Scott ArfieldArfield has been a vital cog in Gerrard's side this season, and this was on show again on Thursday as the 32-year-old smashed home the winner and was a constant option in linking the midfield and attackMatch stats
- Rangers have lost just one of their last 22 home matches in Europe, including qualifiers (W15 D6). Standard have lost four of their five Europa League group stage games, having lost just four of their previous 16 (W6 D6 L4). Rangers conceded the opener in a home game for the first time this season, in their 12th game.12 of the last 15 goals Rangers have conceded in all competitions have been in Europe. Tavernier has scored 15 goals in his last 19 matches for Rangers - eight more than any other player. There were just 100 seconds between Goldson's equaliser and Cop making it 2-1 to Standard.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsRangers
- 1McGregor2TavernierBooked at 72mins6Goldson26Balogun31BarisicSubstituted forBasseyat 89'minutes37ArfieldSubstituted forZunguat 86'minutes10Davis18Kamara25RoofeBooked at 85minsSubstituted forIttenat 89'minutes20MorelosSubstituted forAriboat 79'minutes14Kent
Substitutes
- 3Bassey7Hagi11Itten15Zungu16Patterson17Aribo21Barker24Stewart33McLaughlin36Barjonas55Dickson61King
Standard Liege
- 16Bodart6DussenneBooked at 71mins20Bokadi34Laifis21FaiBooked at 90mins28Bastien15ShamirSubstituted forRaskinat 71'minutes27JansSubstituted forGavoryat 86'minutes22LestienneSubstituted forAvenattiat 71'minutes23Tapsoba7CopSubstituted forBalikwishaat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gillet5Sissako12Sylvestre24Gavory25Avenatti26Raskin29Carcela-Gonzalez30Henkinet32Balikwisha33Pavlovic40Landu41Siquet
Referee:Bojan PandzicMatch StatsHome TeamRangersAway TeamStandard LiegePossessionHome51%Away49%ShotsHome16Away10Shots on TargetHome8Away3CornersHome3Away7FoulsHome11Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Rangers 3, Standard Liège 2.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 3, Standard Liège 2.
90'+3'Post update
Offside, Rangers. Allan McGregor tries a through ball, but Cedric Itten is caught offside.
90'+2'Booking
Collins Fai (Standard Liège) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Post update
Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Collins Fai (Standard Liège).
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Cedric Itten (Rangers).
90'+1'Post update
Merveille Bokadi (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Cedric Itten replaces Kemar Roofe.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Calvin Bassey replaces Borna Barisic.
88'Post update
Joe Aribo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Foul by Merveille Bokadi (Standard Liège).
86'Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Bongani Zungu replaces Scott Arfield.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Standard Liège. Nicolas Gavory replaces Laurent Jans.
85'Booking
Kemar Roofe (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85'Post update
Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).
85'Post update
Noe Dussenne (Standard Liège) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Attempt saved. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Connor Goldson.
84'Post update
Offside, Rangers. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Kemar Roofe is caught offside.
82'Post update
Attempt missed. Leon Balogun (Rangers) header from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross following a corner.
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