SECOND BEST IN BUDAPEST

Miovski’s acrobatic opener proves a false dawn as Rangers’ Europa hopes crumble

- BY ANDY NEWPORT IN BUDAPEST

IN a city famed for its ruin bars, Danny Rohl was unable to prevent Rangers's faint Europa League hopes crumbling into the rubble.

The travelling Rangers support who followed their side to Budapest and filled the Hungarian capital's iconic boozers were hoping to toast the first step on a remarkable continental comeback.

But instead it proved to be another sobering night as Gers failed to get the win they needed in the last-chance saloon.

Only wins against Robbie Keane's Budapest giants, Ludogorets and Porto in the league phase closer would have put Rohl’s team in with a chance.

It all looked so promising for the Ibrox men as Bojan Miovski picked up where he left off at Kilmarnock on Saturday, firing home with an incredible acrobatic effort.

The striker needed VAR’ help after the goal was initially ruled offside.

But Rangers were soon watching a rerun of the kind of mistakes that now have them tumbling out of the competition with two games to spare.

First Djeidi Gassama failed to track the run of Ibrahim Cisse and cut back for Bence Otvos as the Ferencvaros ace swept home the equaliser with the last kick of the first half.

And then it was Manny Fernandez's turn to go to sleep as Barnabas Varga ghosted in at the back post to head home from Irishman Callum O’Dowda's cross.

EUROPA GROANS.

Thursday nights have been a source of joy for Rangers for most of the last decade.