Despite their poor form in the Norwegian league, Molde turned out to be a tougher prospect for Rangers than many had suspected ahead of the game.
In an open first half it was Molde who had the better of the chances and Rangers who would have gone in at the interval relieved to be on level terms.
Stian Ohr could have made it 1-0 to the Norwegians as early as five minutes into the game, but couldn't quite reach Daniel Berg Hestad's long ball. Ten minutes later Magne Hoseth headed narrowly over the bar with Rangers yet to trouble Jan Larsen's goal.
Midway through the first half the visitors started to look more dangerous and Kris Boyd got his first real chance in front of goal, but couldn't get his balance and pushed his cross wide of the target.
On 36 minutes Lee Martin also had a good opportunity but his powerful right-footed effort went a couple of feet wide.
Despite allowing their opponents the better of the possession in the first half Rangers came closest to snatching a goal in injury time, when Matej Mavric managed to clear the ball off the line after a prolonged goalmouth scramble.
Molde proved to be no easier to deal with in the second half and again had the better chances including a penalty claim, which was turned down by the referee after Madiou Konate was felled in the box by Julien Rodriguez.
Ten minutes from time Allan McGregor, making just his 14th appearance for Rangers, made a great save at full stretch to deny Berg Hestad whose shot seemed to be headed straight into the top corner of the net.
In the end Rangers will have been glad to survive the late pressure and start with a clean slate on home soil.