BUCHAREST (AFP) - Rangers's slim hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League have all but disappeared after they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni here on Wednesday.

On a rain-soaked pitch both teams found it difficult to create many clear-cut opportunities but it was the Scottish champions who made the break-through in the 78th minute when Lee McCulloch's drive from range beat Giedrius Arlauskis.

Walter Smith's side looked on course for their first win of the competition until the 89th minute when substitute Marius Onofras lashed in an unstoppable shot to pull the Romanians level before Papac missed a sitter in injury time as Rangers failed to avenge their 4-1 thrashing at Ibrox.

Stuttgart's draw with Sevilla, who have qualified for the next stage, leaves Rangers rooted to the bottom of Group G on two points from four games and with only third place and a spot in the Europa League to realistically play for.

Unirea are now two points above Stuttgart in the race for second place.

Rangers youngster Danny Wilson came in for his first Champions League match to partner David Weir in the centre of defence in the absence of Madjid Bougherra, just a week after making his Rangers debut.

Lithuanian keeper Arlauskis, who missed the match at Ibrox through injury, took his place in the Unirea goal and Kevin Thomson was the first to test him.

His curling free-kick from 30 yards bounced just in front of Arlauskis and he had to stretch to beat it away.

Steven Naismith came close to opening the scoring after 19 minutes when he met Kyle Lafferty's cross from the right with a header that Arlauskis got down low to his left to smother.

Vasile Maftei nearly fired Unirea into the lead when he blasted in a fierce free-kick from 25 yards which Allan McGregor saw late but managed to get away.

McGregor then had to produce a finger-tip save from Sorin Frunza, whose shot in the box took a wicked deflection off Wilson.

Just as he did at Ibrox, Unirea coach Dan Petrescu made an early tactical change when Balan was replaced by Marius Onofras and the substitute tried his luck with an audacious long-range lob that crashed into the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time Lafferty, making his first European start, saw his curling effort go inches wide of the post after Kenny Miller had played him in.

Unirea started the second half strongly with both Frunza and Valeriu Bordeanu testing McGregor from distance but neither troubled the keeper.

Miller blew a golden chance to put Rangers ahead on the hour mark when Davis picked him out in the box but the Scotland international's weak effort went straight to Arlauskis.

Serban Varga beat the offside trap in the 75th but he could only blast his half-volley straight at McGregor.

The Rangers keeper was in fine form and did well to hold onto a fierce dipping shot from Marius Bilasco, who lashed in a volley from the edge of the box.

A poor clearance from McCulloch presented Bilasco with his opening but it was the former Wigan Athletic man who gave Rangers the lead in the 78th minute.

He fired in a fierce dipping shot from 25 yards which bounced in front of Arlauskis and took a touch off his hands before heading high into the top of the net.

Rangers had barely time to celebrate before Wilson was called to head an Onofras shot off the line but he popped up ten minutes later to break Rangers hearts.

Bilasco laid the ball off to him and he took a touch before sending a rocket past McGregor from 20 yards out into the top corner.

In injury time Papac found himself unmarked at the back post from a corner but he sent his shot wide of the post.