Rangers confront new low as Jablonec force penalties

Jan Chramosta’s winning penalty in the shoot‑out handed Jablonec a dramatic victory over Rangers, extinguishing the Scottish side’s hopes in the European competition. The decisive spot‑kick came after extra‑time saw Vakhtang Tchanturishvili level the tie, sending the match to penalties on 27 August 2026.

First‑leg lead and Czech showdown

Rangers entered the tie with a 1‑0 advantage from the first leg, a lead secured by Ryan Naderi’s goal at Ibrox. Their opponents, Jablonec of the Czech Republic, were described as third‑rate opposition in a third‑rate competition. The Scottish side expected to progress comfortably.

The second leg began slowly, but Jablonec created the first clear chance on 13 minutes when Jan Suchan’s through ball released Lamin Jawo behind the Rangers defence. Jawo’s low shot at the near post was saved by Ivor Pandur, denying the Czech side an early lead.

At halftime, Derek McInnes made a triple substitution, bringing on Lawrence Shankland, Findlay Curtis and Connor Barron while removing Dan Neil, Daisuke Yokota and Djeidi Gassama. The changes signalled a shift in shape as McInnes sought a breakthrough.

Extra‑time drama and penalty climax

Extra‑time delivered the breakthrough when Vakhtang Tchanturishvili equalised in the 73rd minute, using a Cruyff turn and dummy to evade James Penrice before firing a low shot that deflected past Pandur into the net.

The tie was decided by penalties. Ivor Pandur saved Jablonec’s third spot‑kick, but Findlay Curtis and James Penrice missed their attempts, and Jan Chramosta converted the decisive penalty to clinch the shoot‑out for Jablonec.

European fallout and future pressure

The defeat adds to a string of setbacks for Derek McInnes, who has already endured a Europa League qualifier loss to Jagiellonia Bialystok. He has signed a dozen new players, six of whom started and two came off the bench, yet the results have not improved. The analysis was provided by CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER.

Rangers now face a season without European group‑stage football, the first such absence since their 2017 elimination by Progres Niederkorn. The club’s exit places them alongside Progres and Club Brugge in a growing “hall of shame” for European failures.

Looking ahead, Rangers travel to Pittodrie to meet Aberdeen on Sunday before confronting Celtic in two Old Firm fixtures in September, a schedule that will test McInnes’s position further.