Benfica 2-2 Rangers: Visitors twice lead before settling for thrilling draw
Benfica #Benfica
Tom Lawrence headed Rangers in front after just seven minutes
Rangers continued their impressive Europa League campaign with a first-leg draw against Benfica after twice leading in the last-16 tie in Lisbon.
Tom Lawrence set the visitors on their way with an inch-perfect header in their first real attack after superb work down the left by Mohamed Diomande to set up the Welshman.
Rangers managed the game well from there but as half-time approached they suffered a controversial concession when John Souttar headed against his own arm in the box. After a video assistant referee intervention, Angel Di Maria coolly slotted the penalty equaliser.
Rangers responded instantly and impressively. Fabio Silva played a ball in from the left, it nicked off a defender and straight to the onrushing Dujon Sterling who slammed in his first goal for the club.
Benfica applied significant pressure after the interval, although Fabio Silva had a good opportunity well saved at the other end after he escaped the attention of two defenders on the counter.
The home side’s perseverance was eventually rewarded when a free-kick was angled into a dangerous area and, inexplicably, Rangers defender Connor Goldson nodded past Jack Butland in goal under no real pressure.
That sparked an upsurge in pressure and when John Lundstram was caught in possession the ball was worked back to Di Maria in a central area, but he fluffed his lines and tamely side-footed well past the post to Rangers’ relief.
Rafa Silva then wildly swiped at a great opportunity and the ball sailed over. Benfica continued to press but a disciplined defence held out for a result they would have welcomed before kick-off.
Player of the match – Jack Butland (Rangers)So many Rangers players delivered in an impressive collective display. Mohamed Diomande did so again, the defence, largely, stood firm but goalkeeper Butland made some crucial interventions that delivered the platform for this result. He continues to be arguably the signing of the seasonRangers show real maturity in Europe – analysis
Ultimately, a debatable penalty and an avoidable own goal cost Rangers the possibility of a staggering win.
Rangers came to Lisbon hampered by injuries, particularly in wide areas, to face a Benfica team which contains considerable quality. They had never lost a home Europa League tie in this stadium.
They still have not but Rangers will feel they could have shattered that record, despite the increasing pressure they had to endure.
The visitors were, understandably, labelled underdogs by manager Philippe Clement. They expected an early storm. One arrived but with Butland again standing strong, Rangers executed their first real attack superbly.
The presence of mind from Diomande to pick out Lawrence on the run was key and, suddenly, all the pressure was on the home side. Such moments of quality are vital at this level.
The decision to award a penalty was controversial but Rangers’ response to that blow was brilliant.
Benfica had chances and, by the end, had Rangers pinned back but it wasn’t chance after chance. They struggled to break the Ibrox side down.
In Europe, Rangers continue to demonstrate a real maturity that is delivering sensational results. They stayed strong in adversity and will take real confidence heading into the return leg at Ibrox having secured a creditable outcome.
What they said
Benfica manager Roger Schmidt: “We showed quality and confidence. We dominated the game in my opinion and had so many chances to score more goals.
“Today was not our best in efficiency. It’s a different game next week. We have the confidence to play a good game there and win.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “I’m really proud of the performance, the result remains a difficult one. We were really close to making a miracle by winning here as the first team ever in the Europa League.
“I am really proud of my team. They showed character, solidarity and personality. We scored two really good goals with good football. I am someone who is demanding towards them, but I cannot ask more from them. They gave it their all.
“We need to continue like this, if they continue to show the mentality they have the last few months, it can be an amazing season.”
Match stats
What’s next?
No respite for Rangers. Their challenge on three fronts takes them to Easter Road on Sunday to face Hibernian (17:30 GMT) in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, before the second leg against Benfica next Thursday (17:45).
Line-upsBenfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Trubin
6Bah4António Silva30Otamendi8Aursnes
87Gonçalves Neves61Morris Luís
7Neres Campos27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva11Di María
9Mendonça Cabral
Substitutes
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Butland
2Tavernier6Goldson5Souttar3Yilmaz
42Diomande4Lundstram
21Sterling11Lawrence7Fábio Silva
9Dessers
Substitutes
Referee:Tobias Stieler
Attendance:48,759
Live Text
Match ends, Benfica 2, Rangers 2.
Second Half ends, Benfica 2, Rangers 2.
Foul by Ángel Di María (Benfica).
John Souttar (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Rangers. Ross McCausland replaces Fábio Silva.
Attempt missed. Rafa (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolás Otamendi with a headed pass.
Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Ridvan Yilmaz.
João Neves (Benfica) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Rangers).
António Silva (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).
Substitution, Benfica. Tiago Gouveia replaces David Neres.
Substitution, Benfica. Álvaro Fernández replaces Alexander Bah.
Substitution, Rangers. Nicolas Raskin replaces Mohamed Diomande.
Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Jack Butland.
Corner, Benfica. Conceded by John Lundstram.
Corner, Benfica. Conceded by John Lundstram.
Attempt blocked. Ángel Di María (Benfica) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rafa.
Substitution, Rangers. Ryan Jack replaces Tom Lawrence.
Player of the match
ButlandJack Butland
Benfica
Squad number1Player nameTrubin
Squad number87Player nameJoão Neves
Squad number7Player nameDavid Neres
Squad number11Player nameDi María
Squad number27Player nameRafa
Squad number61Player nameFlorentino
Squad number30Player nameOtamendi
Squad number6Player nameBah
Squad number8Player nameAursnes
Squad number9Player nameArthur Cabral
Squad number4Player nameAntónio Silva
Squad number36Player nameMarcos Leonardo
Squad number3Player nameFernández
Squad number47Player nameTiago Gouveia
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number7Player nameFábio Silva
Squad number21Player nameSterling
Squad number11Player nameLawrence
Squad number3Player nameYilmaz
Squad number42Player nameDiomande
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number5Player nameSouttar
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Squad number93Player nameMcKinnon
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Squad number45Player nameMcCausland