Rangers twice surrendered the lead to draw the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Benfica 2-2. Philippe Clementâs squad were hit by injuries but returning midfielder Tom Lawrence gave the visitors a dramatic early lead with a header before Ăngel Di MarĂa levelled with a penalty kick in first-half added time after VAR intervened to highlight thatJohn Souttar had used his arm inside the box.
Dujon Sterling restored the lead in the fifth of five minutes off first-half added time with his first career goal only for Connor Goldson to head into his own goal midway through the second half to take the tie back to Glasgow next Thursday night level.
Much of the pre-match talk surrounded Clementâs limited options in attack. He was without the services of four injured wingers â Abdallah Sima, Scott Wright, Rabbi Matondo and Ăscar CortĂ©s â albeit the latter is not in the European squad. With Ross McCausland only fit to start on the bench, it meant no natural width in attack.
FĂĄbio Silva, who spent two seasons with Benfica as a youth player, supported main striker Cyriel Dessers from the left with Sterling working off the right.
Under-pressure Benfica manager, Roger Schmidt, was looking for his side to bounce back from their 5-0 thrashing by title rivals Porto at the weekend and had a host of big names in the starting lineup including World Cup winners NicolĂĄs Otamendi and Di MarĂa.
About 3,500 Rangers fans were in position to see goalkeeper Jack Butland make an early save at his near post from David Neresâs drive. And moments later they were off their seats cheering when Silva sent Mohamed Diomande free inside the box and he lifted the ball for the in-rushing Lawrence to head down past diving keeper Anatoliy Trubin.
Butland then made a double save, first from Neres and then from striker Arthur Cabral from the loose ball, albeit his effort had been partially blocked by Souttar. However, after the VAR, Marco Fritz, intervened following another Benfica corner, the defender was adjudged by the referee, Tobias Stieler, to have hit the ball with his arm as he defended the delivery and Di MarĂa sent Butland the wrong way with an assured penalty.
There was more first-half drama to come in the final minute of the five added when Sterling, signed from Chelsea in the summer, stole in to convert a deflected Silva cross from close range, with a VAR check confirming his landmark goal.
after newsletter promotion
Both sides went for more goals from the start of the second half, with Cabral heading wide at the back post from a Rafa Silva cross before Trubin blocked a Silva effort at the other end. However, Benfica were level again in the 67th minute when Di MarĂa floated in a free-kick from 35 yards and Goldson stretched to clear but only sent it past Butland. The home side sensed a winner was there for them and Di MarĂa somehow missed the target from 12 yards.
In the 77th minute Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack and Cole McKinnon took over from Dessers, Lawrence and Sterling but Benficaâs steady pressure continued to the final whistle. The return game promises more thrills and spills as Rangers look to complete the job.
