Whilst the Estadio de Luz was empty on Thursday evening, if you listened closely you might’ve heard the communal sighs of Rangers fans as their team conceded a last-minute equaliser to Benfica.
Despite a rocky start to Rangers’ latest outing on the continent – matches which are always eventful – the Ibrox side battled into a 3-1 lead on Benfica’s own patch.
The Portuguese giants might’ve been reduced to 10 men in the first half but even the most critical of voices will struggle to claim that Rangers did not deserve at least a two goal advantage.
It’s been described as some of the best football of Steven Gerrard’s tenure with the second goal – the latest superbly worked team goal in a growing montage reel of them – embodying this.
Rangers could’ve been out of sight by the time Darwin Nunez altered the course of the match in the second half and that is truly no exaggeration, or no mean feat, against a side who have never lost at home in the competition.
But whilst Rangers deserve massive plaudits for how they played against a Benfica side who spent £90m in the summer, the ebb and flow of the match proves that the side has a few inches to grow yet.
The fact there was an air of disappointment amongst Rangers fans after the result is evidence of how far this side has come – but they’re not there yet.
If Rangers had held out in Lisbon it wouldn’t have just been one of the best European results of Steven Gerrard’s time as boss – and there have been plenty – but it would’ve probably been one of the best in the club’s history.
But just as with the first goal, we showed an uncertainty that we deserve to compete at this level in losing two late strikes with elements of immaturity evident in those closing stages.
Rangers were enjoying the fruits of our labour so much we failed to see the bigger picture and see the game out.
We flooded forward with intent when perhaps a more studious approach would’ve helped get a historic result over the line.
It was a big learning curve but one from which this encouraging and developing squad of players can take both positives and negatives from.
A victory in Lisbon might’ve perhaps glossed over a few of the issues which still need to be ironed out if Steven Gerrard’s side are to truly announce themselves in the upper tier of this level.
Instead, that 3-3 draw acts as a reminder that this Rangers team is still mid-evolution with the biggest tests – and the biggest performances – still to come.
As it stands, the return fixture at Ibrox looks as mouth-watering a European tie Rangers have had in a generation, with the genuine prospect of a famous victory on the horizon.
