By Duncan Wright
Rangers hopes of ending their twelve-year absence from the group stages of the Champions League competition remain alive after a pulsating 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox on Tuesday evening.
Despite going one nil down on thirty-five minutes Rangers hit back almost immediately through in-form striker Antonia Colak meaning the teams left the pitch at half time all square. PSV began to impose themselves on the game in the second half but in the sixty eighth minute a speculative free kick from Tom Lawrence was spectacularly throw into his own net by the PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez to give Rangers a 2-1 lead.
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However, ten minutes later it was PSV’s turn to equalise when Rangers defended a corner poorly allowing Armando Obispo to power a header past goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin. In what was a pulsating European tie a draw was probably a fair result and one which both managers will be reasonably happy with. Rangers manager Van Bronckhorst commented after the game,
“I’m happy with the performance, today I think we gave everything. In the beginning we were a little bit nervous…I think the goal we scored was an excellent goal…At moments we played really well. We were playing against a quality side. The difference over the 90 minutes was not that big…there is everything to play for next week when we travel to Eindhoven.’
With the absence of the away goal rule in European competition the tie has essentially turned into a cup final when the teams meet in Eindhoven next week. A cup final with an enormous financial reward awaiting the victors. And the teams were given a taste of what playing Champions League football means as they made their way onto the pitch at the start of the game; the famous Champions League anthem was blasted over the Ibrox PA and a large plastic Champions League banner was vigorously shaken by a team of volunteers in the centre circle. Van Bronckhorst believes he and his players are ready for the Champions League group stages,
“We are able to go through. We have showed it in the past when we can get a result away from home. It’s going to be a difficult game…but I’m confident. We have the chance in one game to go through.”
Van Bronckhorst’s counterpart, PSV manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy felt that the result was fair and commented on the atmosphere at Ibrox and how special it is. Prowling the touchline now instead of the six-yard box, and watched from the Ibrox stands by his former manager Alex Ferguson, he is hopeful that next week PSV can utilise the home advantage they will have,
“The crowd here (at Ibrox) lifts the team in such a way it affects you. There are not many places like this, it is special. Both teams are very close, next week is a final. Hopefully our crowd will help us next week.”
Although Rangers continued their impressive European record under Van Bronckhorst, seven home European games without defeat, it’s their less impressive away record in Europe that they must look to address should they wish to progress from the tie. Despite the heroics of last season Rangers have not won any of their last five European games away from home, including the final in Seville.
Last season’s march to the Europa League final saw Rangers enjoy home advantage in the second leg against Braga, Dortmund and Leipzig and the Ibrox crowd more than played their part in each of those ties. Indeed, just last week in the Second Qualifying tie versus Union Saint Gilloise, Rangers were able to utilise home advantage in the second leg to devastating effect as they turned round a 2-0 1st leg defeat, to win 3-0 at Ibrox and progress to the tie against PSV.
Despite the loss of home advantage in the second leg the tie remains finely balanced. The first leg was like a boxing match at times with the teams behaving like fighters trying to find their rhythm in order to deliver some painful punches to their opposite number. There were spells in the game where punches were landed, Rangers 1st goal in particular was a joy to watch with its incisive one touch passing in the build-up and the predatory finish from Colak.
However, Rangers allowed PSV to inflict damage too easily from set pieces, conceding both goals from corner kicks, something which had been identified before the game as a major strength for the Dutch side. Rangers will need to defend better next week if they want to have a chance of progressing. If they can stay in the game, the evidence from tonight suggests that Rangers will get chances to exploit PSV on the break.
The Rangers manager believes his squad of players are ready for the Champions League. It’s time for them to go and grab the opportunity that will allow them to prove to him they are.