Rangers were always going to need a bit of luck against Benfica to get the sort of result that kept the tie alive.
Gers boss Philippe Clement is never one to shirk a challenge and taking the Portuguese giants back to Ibrox with a chance to make the quarter-finals was always going to be the aim.
What we also needed was for the referee to do us a favour and in Tobias Stieler, Rangers have someone who has helped us out before but, has he been on our side against big guns Benfica?
Rangers v Benfica – Referee watch
This is the third time that Rangers have had Stieler as referee.
The first time was against Alashkert in Armenia where he sent one of the home sides players off and the second was against Ajaz away in the Champions League.
The less said about that game the better.
What Stieler is though, is an experienced referee at this level of European competitoin and there is a reason why he consistently gets to officiate in the knockout rounds of both the Champions League and Europa League.
Stieler, in the early stages, was keen to let things flow and anything other than obvious fouls were waved on – for both sides.
There was scare after just a few minutes though when James Tavernier was backed into going for a header on the edge of the box only for the ref not to give it and a moment of panic followed in the defence.
Not as much panic as 17 minutes in thought when Dujon Sterling went shoulder to shoulder in the box.
There’s always one winner there but continental refs sometimes aren’t quite as forgiving when it comes to physical challenges, even if they are 50/50.
Good refereeing from Stieler saw a goal kick given and Benfica complaints waved away.
Sterling wasn’t so lucky 10 minutes later though and was the first into the book, a heavy touch was followed by the utility man over stretching – a habit he needs to cut out from his game.
Another call Stieler got correct.
Angel di Maria was next into the book, which led to the handbags getting thrown about, the Argentina legend pushed Ridvan Yilmaz who was blocking the winger from getting the ball for a free-kick.
A stern word and play on, more good refereeing.
Di Maria was involved again as he raced onto a through ball, Connor Goldson couldn’t get there quick enough but the veteran’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.
As were Sterling’s just a few moments later as he burst into the box.
A minute before half-time and John Souttar wasn’t so lucky – Stieler’s first mistake and it was a stinker.
The ball clearly hit Souttar’s arm but he headed it onto it himself, this shouldn’t be a penalty and the officials have badly let Rangers down, the big defender didn’t get any sort of advantage either – his arm was also below his shoulder line.
For 45 minutes they had been perfect, getting every decision right, again, the handball law needs to be looked at when officials no longer rely on them and just go off what they see.
It cost Rangers a goal but how much else will it cost them?
