PHIL’S DUBLIN DOWN ON THE TITLE
Gers miss the bus.. now league is all that matters
WELL, at least UEFA have one less thing to worry about now.
And while Philippe Clement will be loathe to admit it, perhaps it’s best for Rangers’ Premiership title ambitions that they no longer have to concern themselves with the Europa League either after Rafa Silva’s 67th-minute goal sent them spinning out.
While the 2022 finalists and their thousands of fans would have loved nothing more than to give European football’s governing body – and likely the Irish gardai too – a huge logistical headache by marching to this year’s competition climax in Dublin, the fact remains this Ibrox line-up have more pressing issues.
Like an injury list that left gaffer Clement with no choice but to start a striker in Cyriel Dessers who has now gone five games without a goal.
The fact that perennial fringe-man Scott Wright was parachuted in to start the most-challenging night of the Light Blues’ season so far was another indication of the taxing toll that competing on four fronts has had on the Premiership leaders. A day that started with Jack Butland disappointed at being left out the England squad, ended with an extra dollop of despair as Rafa Silva stayed onside by millimetres to fire past the Ibrox No.1.
Rangers simply wouldn’t have made it this far without Butland’s brilliance in goal. But even he could not prolong a remarkable run on a tense, tight, edgy night when tiredness was starting to show in the home ranks.
It was a soggy night as Ibrox was drenched by a relentless downpour.
Right enough, when it comes to Clement’s injury woes, it never rains but it pours for the Belgian too.
Dujon Sterling was ruled out with the hamstring strain he picked up at Easter Road, while Ross McCausland – who also limped off after replacing the utility man in Leith – was only fit enough for a seat on the bench.
Wright came in for his first start since being hooked at half-time during last month’s win over St Johnstone.
That clash in Perth was Todd Cantwell’s last involvement but after four weeks out, the playmaker was finally available – but also only for a seat on the bench.
Roger Schmidt’s Benfica were back at full strength after the German rested a string of key men – including World Cup winners Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi – for Sunday’s domestic win over Estoril.
It was another huge test for this Gers line-up and the fans responded by creating an atmosphere befitting the occasion.
The roar was rumbling around the old place long before the game kicked off but if anything, the raging noise levels only served to rush Rangers during a harum-scarum start.
Mohamed Diomande, John Lundstram and Fabio Silva were all far too keen to get passes off early doors when calm heads were needed.
The Portuguese visitors, meanwhile, coolly went about their business,
oblivious to the ear-splitting din that was thundering around them. First-half chances were rare but the game gripping all the same.
John Souttar was spotting danger and cutting it off. Lundstram likewise. And if he didn’t, Diomande did.
But the Benfica backline were just as alert as they stepped in time and again to cut off Dessers’ supply. When they didn’t, the frontman teed up Wright but his 25-yarder sailed over.
Ibrox held its breath though when a rare Lundstram mistake was very nearly punished. Di Maria raced down the right but Connor Goldson and James Tavernier eventually squeezed out Rafa Silva at the back post.
Dessers had managed just five touches in the first half but his first in the second almost brought the opener.
Wright led the charge through the middle and Dessers cut inside Antonio Silva but Fredrik Aursnes’ touch took the ball wide.
Antiono Silva watched with concern as a Tavernier cross bounced off his hip before creeping wide as he tangled with the Ibrox No.9.
Rangers responded to the soaring volume by pouring forward. However,
Benfica’s threat on the counter was made plain as the Eagles swept forward, with Casper Tengstedt firing straight at Butland.
Clement’s side failed to heed that warning and found themselves behind as another rapid Benfica breakaway brought the opener.
The Light Blues manager punched the air with frustration when Dessers failed to control a bouncing ball in the Portuguese side’s box.
And he was left looking to the heavens when Schmidt’s team cleared the ball to Di Maria, with his header sending Rafa Silva racing into empty space to clinically fire past Butland.
An offside flag immediately shot up but Rangers’ joy quickly became bedlam in the Benfica end as VAR ruled that the scorer had started his run inside his own half, with the goal allowed to stand.
Clement responded by throwing on Cantwell, Rabbi Matondo and Kemar Roofe for a desperate salvage mission.
As it turned out, it took Butland’s fingertip stop from a low Alexander Bah strike to prevent the visitors wrapping up the win early.
The keeper raced into the Benfica box as Rangers won a free-kick deep in stoppage time.
But even Super Jack couldn’t pull off that last act of heroism and salvage a quarter-final place.