Rangers pegged back twice in thriller at Benfica
Tom Lawrence put Rangers in the lead only seven minutes into the game.
The Rangers team kept up their great performance in the Europa League by securing a draw against Benfica in the first leg of the last-16 tie in Lisbon, having taken the lead twice during the match.
Tom Lawrence got things started for the visiting team by scoring a header with great accuracy. This was their first major attack of the game, which was made possible by Mohamed Diomande's excellent efforts on the left side, enabling him to assist the Welsh player.
The Rangers team played the game effectively until nearing half-time, when a disputed goal was given against them. John Souttar unintentionally headed the ball against his own arm, leading to a penalty being awarded after a virtual assistant referee review. Angel Di Maria successfully scored the penalty, resulting in the game being tied.
The Rangers team acted very quickly and in an outstanding manner. Fabio Silva delivered a pass from the left and it accidentally touched a defender before reaching Dujon Sterling who was running towards the goal. Sterling was able to score his initial goal for the club with force.
After the halftime, Benfica exerted a lot of pressure. However, Fabio Silva got a good chance but it was well saved by the opposing team after he successfully passed by two defenders on the counter.
After persisting, the team playing at home finally earned a result when a free-kick was taken in a dangerous direction and surprisingly, a defender from the opposing team, Rangers, unintentionally headed the ball into the goal, without any real challenge from the goalkeeper, Jack Butland.
This caused a sudden increase in intensity, and when John Lundstram was caught with the ball, it was passed back to Di Maria who was positioned in a central area. Unfortunately, he failed to perform well and weakly kicked the ball far wide of the post, much to Rangers' relief.
Afterwards, Rafa Silva attempted to seize an excellent chance to score, but unfortunately missed the mark. Despite Benfica's persistent attacks, the structured defense managed to hold strong and secure the favorable outcome they had hoped for prior to the game.
Jack Butland Named Player Of Match
Analyzing Rangers' Maturity In European Play
In the end, a penalty that can be argued over and an own goal that could have been prevented made it impossible for Rangers to secure an impressive victory.
The Rangers arrived in Lisbon with some hindrances caused by injuries, particularly on the sides of the field, to confront a Benfica squad that boasts exceptional capability. Benfica had never suffered a loss in a Europa League match in their own stadium.
Rangers haven't succeeded in breaking the record yet, but they might believe that they could have done so, even though they faced mounting pressure.
Manager Philippe Clement labeled the visitors as underdogs, which was understandable. They anticipated a swift and sudden attack. While one did arrive, Rangers executed their first legitimate offensive move with excellence due to Butland's outstanding defence.
Diomande's quick thinking to locate Lawrence in motion was decisive in shifting the burden onto the home team. Top-class moments like this are crucial in matches of this caliber.
The call to give a penalty was a matter of dispute, however, the way Rangers reacted to it was exceptional.
During the match, Benfica had several opportunities to score; however, towards the end, they continuously pressured Rangers but couldn't find a way to penetrate their defense.
Rangers are showing impressive levels of maturity in Europe, resulting in fantastic outcomes. Despite facing difficulties, they remained resilient and are feeling confident for the upcoming match at Ibrox after achieving a commendable result.
According to Benfica's coach Roger Schmidt, his team displayed excellent skills and self-assurance during the game. He believes that they controlled the match and had several opportunities to score additional goals.
"We didn't have the greatest performance in terms of productivity today. However, we're preparing for a new challenge next week. We believe that we can put up a strong fight and emerge victorious."
The coach of the Rangers, Philippe Clement, expressed his pride in the team's play, although he acknowledges that the outcome was a challenge. Despite this difficulty, the team came very close to achieving a historic accomplishment; being the first ever team to win in that stadium during the Europa League games.
I feel immensely proud of my squad. Their performance demonstrated characteristics such as unity, determination, and distinctiveness. We managed to secure two commendable goals through skillful football tactics. Although I hold high expectations for my team, I am content with their efforts as they have truly given their best.
If they maintain the same attitude they've had over the past few months, we should keep up and have an astounding season.
Rangers are facing a tough run of matches ahead. They will be playing against Hibernian on Sunday at Easter Road for the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, followed by a second leg against Benfica next Thursday at 17:45. There seems to be no break for the Rangers as they continue battling on three fronts.
The game is over, and the final score is 2-2 with Benfica and Rangers both getting two goals each.
The final whistle has blown, and the match between Benfica and Rangers has come to a close. The score at the end of the game was tied at 2-2.
Ángel Di María (Benfica) committed a violation.
In the defensive half, John Souttar (Rangers) was able to earn a free kick.
The Rangers make a switch on the field. Fábio Silva steps out and is replaced by Ross McCausland.
Rafa from Benfica just missed a shot with his left foot from the middle of the box. The ball was too high and went too far to the left. Nicolás Otamendi helped him with a header pass, but they weren't able to score.
In the corner area is Benfica. They gave away the ball because of Ridvan Yilmaz.
On the right side of the field, João Neves from Benfica earned himself a chance for a free kick.
Nicolas Raskin (Rangers) committed a penalty.
António Silva (Benfica) receives a free opportunity to take a kick in their own half of the field.
Kemar Roofe (from the football team Rangers) committed a rule violation.
Benfica makes a substitution, Tiago Gouveia steps in for David Neres.
The football team Benfica is making a substitution. Alexander Bah is being replaced by Álvaro Fernández.
The Rangers made a change in their lineup by substituting Mohamed Diomande with Nicolas Raskin.
The shot was unsuccessful. Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica) tried to head the ball from the middle of the box but it went over the top. The play was helped by Ángel Di María who passed with a cross after a corner.
Jack Butland gave a corner to Benfica.
The ball went towards the corner in the Benfica football field. The opposition player, John Lundstram, gave away the ball, leading to a corner for the Benfica team.
The ball has gone out of play and it is now a corner kick for Benfica. John Lundstram was the one who caused it by touching the ball last before it went out of bounds.
The try was prevented. Ángel Di María from Benfica tried to shoot with his right foot from the middle of the box, but someone stopped it. Rafa helped Di María with the attempt.
In place of Tom Lawrence, Ryan Jack takes the field for the Rangers.
In today's game, the standout performer was without a doubt the player of the match. They put in a fantastic effort throughout the game, showing great skill and determination. The player of the match was truly outstanding, carrying their team to victory with their impressive performance. Their talent and hard work were evident from the very beginning, as they took control of the game and never let up. Overall, the player of the match was a true inspiration to their teammates and to the fans watching at home. They proved that anything is possible with dedication and a strong work ethic. We can't wait to see what they do next!
On average, the number is 7.76.
Jersey number 87, Athlete João Neves.
Number 7 is the assigned squad number of the player named David Neres.
The player's name is Di María and he wears the squad number 11.
Jersey number 9Player's nameArthur Cabral
Jersey #4 Player Name: António Silva
The designated number on the jersey of the player is 36 and his name is Marcos Leonardo.
Number 47 on the team is taken by a player named Tiago Gouveia.
Jersey number 7 Athlete name Fábio Silva
