(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Unirea holds Rangers to a 1-1 in Champs League

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) A late goal from Marius Onofras gave Unirea Urziceni a 1-1 Champions League draw against Rangers on Wednesday on a water-logged pitch.

Lee McCulloch had given Rangers the lead with a left-foot shot from 20 meters in the 78th minute.

But the Romanian champions, who dominated possession in the second half, equalized in the 88th when Onofras fired home with his right foot from 20 meters.

"It was the best goal of my career. We deserved to win the match but this time, but we had a much more determined opponent," Onofras said.

Unirea is second in Group G with five points after four games, while Rangers is last on two.

Rangers lost 4-1 to Unirea at home but opened the match on the attack.

Kevin Thompson had the visitors' best chance in the first half, but his free kick from 30 meters in the 12th was pushed away by goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis.

Unirea best first-half chance came in the 35th minute when Sorin Frunza tried to lob the ball from 35 meters but sent it over the bar.

"I think we deserved to win. We had more chances. Their keeper was on incredibly good form today," said Unirea coach Dan Petrescu.

Unirea stepped up the pressure in the second. Frunza had an attempt on goal in the 47th, and Valeriu Bordeanu's shot three minutes later went wide.

Rangers relied on counter attacks in the second half, with McCulloch's goal taking the Unirea defense by surprise.

Updated November 4, 2009