RANGERS should wait a bit bit longer to verify their Europa League last-32 qualification for a second successive season.
Steven Gerrard‘s aspect appeared effectively on the right track to seal a significant win at Ibrox having gone up two targets to the great.
Pizzi scored a late equaliser to make Rangers anticipate a last-32 spotCredit score: Willie Vass – The Solar
Scott Arfield fired Rangers in entrance earlier within the recreationCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Nevertheless, two late sucker punches from Benfica imply that either side sit on eight factors in Group D, with Lech Poznan in third on 4.
Scott Arfield opened the scoring after simply seven minutes to set Gerrard’s aspect on their means.
An incredible Borna Barisic cross from the left was met by Kemar Roofe, whose header was saved earlier than James Tavernier’s subsequent effort hit the bar and landed on the ft of Arfield.
The Canadian set himself and thumped the ball along with his proper foot into the web to make it benefit Gers.
Whereas the Portuguese giants dominated possession, one thing the Gentle Blues are usually not used to, it was the Scottish league leaders who appeared the extra threatening.
They managed three photographs on the right track, with Ryan Kent wanting harmful.
However Benfica did create two superb possibilities… first, Everton performed a give-and-go with Alex Grimaldo when getting into the Gers field.
He labored the ball onto his proper foot however blazed over as Allan McGregor and Co breathed a sigh of reduction.
Tavernier hit the bar with a header earlier within the recreationCredit score: Willie Vass – The Solar
Then Rafa Silva appeared sure to bag after taking a sensational contact spherical Leon Balogun, however the Nigerian recovered fantastically effectively to deflect his shot for a nook.
Into the second half and Benfica continued their stress, however by no means correctly examined McGregor regardless of having all of the ball. Everton and Haris Seferovic has pops at objective, however neither participant shot with any actual conviction.
Simply after the hour mark, the house aspect ought to’ve had a penalty. Kemar Roofe nicked the ball again from Grimaldo on the half means line and drove with tempo in direction of the Benfica field.
The attacker tried an early drilled cross to Kent, however his cross was blocked by ex-Spurs star Jan Vertonghen with what gave the impression to be his hand raised contained in the field.
This is able to develop into a significant second within the match.
Though, 5 minutes in a while 69 minutes the Englishman produced a shocking end to make it 2-0 to Rangers.
Kent slipped the ball into the on-form striker, who took a contact to get the ball out of his ft and hit a rasping shot into the roof of the web giving Helton Leite no probability within the Benfica objective.
Kemar Roofe’s thunderous strikeCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
The Portuguese giants did get themselves a objective although on 78-minutes, after the ball deflected in off Tavernier after McGregor produced a positive close-range save from Seferovic.
It made for a nervy ending to the sport – which finally price Rangers.
Earlier than Benfica equalised, Alfredo Morelos practically made it 3-1 to Gerrard’s males after his shot cracked the bar after a save from Leite from his firce shot.
However roughly straight after this transfer, Benfica, by way of Pizzi levelled proceedings.
The Argentine was slipped in as he stood centrally within the field.
His good fast ft evaded Balogun as he despatched his shot means behind McGregor to make the rating 2-2.
Rangers will probably be disenchanted to need to accept a degree, however Benfica as soon as once more proved they seem to be a qualify outfit.
