Union Saint-Gilloise failed to make it past the third preliminary round of the Champions League on Tuesday, losing to Glasgow Rangers in their return match after beating the Scottish side 2-0 a week ago.
Union will now play in the group stage of the Europa League.
The Belgian side started well but from the first minutes of the game, they had to deal with the charged atmosphere in the Ibrox Stadium, with 50,000 Rangers fans solidly behind their home side.
After a first warning shot from Antonio Colak in the 9th minute, Anthony Moris made a top-class save on a point-blank header, again from Colak, in the 28th.
Between the two, Siebe Van der Heyden issued a warning to Scottish goalkeeper McLaughlin in the 19th, but his header, from a corner, went wide.
The Unionists battled valiantly, particularly on the counter, but after a hand ball by Van der Heyden in the box, penalty specialist James Tavernier wrongfooted Moris to score the opening goal (1-0, 45th) just before the break.
Karel Geraerts’ team got off to a good start in the second half, but the locals made the break, thanks again to Colak, on the rebound from a shot from Arfield that had been pushed back by Moris (2-0, 58th).
As tempers flared, and the coin seemed liable to fall on any side, Tillman sent a final shot past an advancing Moris to qualify the Scots (3-0, 79th).
The Unionists pressed hard in the late stages of the game, but were unable to change the outcome.
They will, however, play in the group stage of the Europa League, one year after ascending to the elite tier of Belgian football.
The Belgian vice-champions may perhaps be regretting the many chances missed in the last Tuesday’s first leg in Leuven.
