LIOR REFAELOV admits Rangers were just too good for Royal Antwerp after Steven Gerrard's side punished the Belgians and progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League.

Rangers followed up their incredible 4-3 win in the first leg last week with another thrilling victory as they emerged as 5-2 winners at Ibrox and booked their place in the next round.

Refaelov had given Antwerp a glimmer of hope when he cancelled out Alfredo Morelos' opener but a strike from Didier Lamkel Ze proved in vain as Nathan Patterson and Ryan Kent netted for Rangers.

 

 

The scoring was complete when Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten converted from the spot and Refaelov had no complaints about the final result and a 9-5 aggregate defeat for Franky Vercauteren's side.

Refaelov said: "We conceded nine goals and at this level it is difficult to hope and to try to achieve the next round.

READ MORE: Relentless Rangers deserve their place in history as Steven Gerrard guides his side to title greatness

"I think Rangers did a fantastic job and it was really well deserved for them to qualify for the next round.

"For our side, I think we did a lot of unnecessary mistakes as a team. Beside that, to score five goals in two matches is something positive .

READ MORE: Rangers 5-2 Royal Antwerp: Nathan Patterson takes first step on road to redemption in frantic win

"We have a feeling that we gave it away too easily with some responsibilities at the back and when the danger was there. At that level, every mistake you make you get punished directly.

"The feeling is that we could do more but Rangers really deserved to qualify.

"For us as a club, to play European games it was a first experience for some of the guys in the dressing room.

"As a club, after so many years not playing at that level, to achieve everything we did in the European competition, we can be proud and take this for the future.

"We are going. We are second in the [league] competition and we will try to stay there until the end. This is our task for now."