[ad_1]
Rangers crashed out of the Europa League after a 1-0 dwelling defeat to Benfica, exiting Europe’s second-tier competitors 2-3 on mixture.
Philippe Clement’s aspect had been stuffed with confidence after a dramatic 2-2 attract Lisbon within the first leg and had one of the best of the primary half because the rain lashed down at Ibrox.
Cyriel Dessers got here near opening the scoring earlier than the guests took benefit of some poor defending.
Rafa Silva pounced on a ball on the midway line and raced clear earlier than firing previous Jack Butland. The offside flag was up however the objective was awarded after a prolonged VAR test.
The outcome sends Benfica into Friday’s quarter-final draw whereas Rangers’ consideration returns to home duties and their bid to clinch the Scottish Premiership title.
How Rangers’ Europa League journey ended
Rangers are out of Europe for this season
The Rangers followers within the Broomloan Stand produced an enormous pre-match show that confirmed their sights had been very a lot on the highway to Dublin for the ultimate on Might 22 forward of the last-16 second leg, however there can be no repeat of the membership’s run to the 2022 last
Benfica had some good early possession however Rangers had the primary actual likelihood when Tom Lawrence mixed with Fabio Silva and fired a shot which Anatoliy Trubin let by means of his legs. The visiting goalkeeper was lucky to see the ball trundle extensive after hitting off his leg.
Lawrence quickly had one other likelihood when James Tavernier’s intelligent low nook gave him a free shot at objective 15 yards out however he failed to attach correctly.
Jack Butland confirmed good fingers within the slippery situations to carry Alexander Bah’s long-range strike.
The primary half continued in a extra cagey trend than that 2-2 attract Portugal.
John Souttar was impressing in central defence for Rangers and his cross virtually fell for Cyriel Dessers earlier than Scott Wright slipped within the act of taking pictures from 22 yards and the ball sailed over.
Rangers survived a harmful Benfica assault after John Lundstram fluffed a move inside his personal half.
Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers misses an opportunity
The house aspect had an incredible likelihood on the counter-attack earlier than the break following good work from Wright, however Lawrence picked the mistaken choice and performed in a clearly offside Dessers.
Dessers did get an opportunity early within the second half after Wright burst previous two opponents and performed the striker in. The ahead might need gone for objective first time however he took a contact and his shot was heading for the far nook however deflected simply extensive.
The house aspect saved on the strain however Benfica labored a great likelihood for Casper Tengstedt following a slick break. The substitute shot straight at Butland from 12 yards.
Rangers had been once more uncovered from a counter-attack as Benfica took the lead for the primary time within the tie.
Benfica’s Rafa Silva (left) celebrates with Joao Neves
Angel Di Maria headed on a ball excessive and Rafa Silva raced clear earlier than slotting dwelling. The offside flag went up however a prolonged VAR test determined the goalscorer was simply inside his personal half when the ball was performed on, and the
objective was given.
Rangers’ makes an attempt to get again within the recreation weren’t helped by the floor water on the pitch slowing the ball down amid a day of incessant rain in Glasgow and Butland saved nicely from Bah as Benfica regarded to complete off the tie.
Lundstram obtained an effort on the right track within the latter phases however Trubin saved comfortably and Rangers’ hopes ended when substitute Todd Cantwell stabbed extensive in stoppage-time.
Clement: It is already a profitable season
Rangers supervisor Philippe Clement:
“We performed a greater recreation than we did in Lisbon, a greater recreation on the ball, however it’s important to be in your toes to compete with these type of groups with a a lot larger finances than you may have.
“It is advisable take your moments and we did not take sufficient of our moments. We have to depart this European second behind us and we now have to be actually proud.
“I do know my boys, I do know my dressing room. They’ll recuperate nicely and they’ll are available with a whole lot of starvation to be prepared for Sunday.
“It is already a memorable season, we now have already received the League Cup so we’re hungry for the 2 different trophies.
“We’ll all stick collectively and work actually exhausting to concentrate on these two targets.”
What’s subsequent?
Sunday seventeenth March 11:00am
Kick off 12:00pm
Rangers return to Scottish Premiership motion on Sunday because the leaders go to Dundee; kick-off 12pm, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Get Sky Sports activities on WhatsApp!
Now you can begin receiving messages and alerts for the most recent breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!
[ad_2]
