Genk edge Rangers 1-0 as Diomande red cards changes Euro draw

Genk beat Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox on the opening night of their Europa League campaign, with Mohamed Diomande sent off in the 41st minute and Oh Hyeon-gyu delivering the decisive finish 14 minutes after the break. The striker converted a cross to give Genk the lead, after a half-time penalty shout against Rangers was averted when Jack Butland saved an earlier spot kick. Oh had earlier spurned several good chances before finally finding the net, and he was also ruled offside on another later effort as Genk clung on for the win.

The dismissal of Diomande, the Rangers midfielder, proved the defining moment of the match. Manager Russell Martin said the red card changed the course of the game, noting that his side failed to protect the ball and defended too deep after going a man down. “The red card changed the game a lot,” Martin said. “We didn’t look after the ball anywhere near well enough. We defended too deep, but I thought we rode that out. Then Diomande gets sent off.” The second half saw Rangers attempt to impose themselves, with a more aggressive approach after the break, but Genk defended stubbornly and controlled several late phases.

Rangers had opportunities to level, including a potential handball appeal that the Slovenian referee Matej Jug examined before ruling out a penalty for a foul on James Tavernier. The match also featured a strong moment of fortune for Genk when John Souttar appeared certain to score, only for Genk captain Bryan Heynen to make a remarkable clearance. Martin defended his team’s performance, insisting the result did not reflect the effort or the potential to turn things around. “If we dominate the ball, we create more,” he said, adding that the squad would learn from the setback and prepare for Saturday’s fixture.

Despite the setback, Martin stressed that he has support from the club’s hierarchy. He said he believes the team can still turn things around and praised the players for the way they responded after the red card, including in the second half when Rangers pressed more aggressively. “The longer the game goes on, if we actually dominate the ball, we create a lot more,” he said. “We’ll get there. We had ten men for a long time. I think Jack (Butland) only had two saves to make in the second half.”

The defeat adds pressure on Martin, whose position has been a focus of scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike. Former Rangers figure and current pundit Ally McCoist highlighted the challenge ahead, saying that crowd turnout reflects the broader mood around the club and that the team must deliver a significant improvement soon. “If the people around the stadium don’t support you, there’s no point,” McCoist told TNT Sports, underscoring the urgency of a turnaround.

Genk, who sit 14th in Belgium’s top division after eight league games, were the more dangerous side for much of the evening and created the better chances across the 90 minutes. They appeared to be the more composed side in possession, and their lead could have been extended had Not for a late, equalizing moment for Rangers not been halted by the visitors’ resolute defense. In the end, the visitors held on, secure the win and leave Rangers with a tough path ahead as they look to rebound in their next European assignment and in domestic competition.

The interruption of play following Diomande’s red card, the controversial handball decision, and Oh Hyeon-gyu’s clinical finish will be remembered as the turning points of the night. Rangers will now regroup and look to restore confidence ahead of their next match, with Martin promising a return to fundamentals and greater attacking intent in training and on match days. As the club’s supporters weigh the implications of this setback, the question remains: can Rangers turn around a start to their European campaign that is already under heavy scrutiny?