Dujon Sterling indirectly highlighted how tactically astute Rangers manager Philippe Clement is as the goal hero gave an insight into one of Benfica’s main weaknesses.
The utility man scored Rangers’ second goal of the night after Tom Lawrence had opened the scoring at the Estadio da Luz with a header and Angel Di Maria replied with a penalty for Benfica.
Gers led 2-1 at half-time but a Connor Goldson own goal has the tie all square at 2-2 heading into next weeks’ Europa League second leg at Ibrox.
Sterling ran from deep to score his goal and ghosted past a static Benfica defence to stroke home from close range, sending the more than 3,000 away fans in Lisbon into raptures.
And Sterling admits Benfica’s inability to track attacking runs inside the box was worked on by Philippe Clement and his Rangers side in the lead up to the game.
It really does just encapsulate how adept the Belgian’s attention to detail is and how his awareness for these moments in games can be crucial for Rangers going forward.
Here is everything Dujon Sterling had to say to the press in the bowels of the stadium in Lisbon after the first leg draw.
Dujon Sterling post-Benfica Q&A
Are you okay? Are you feeling alright? Bit of an injury?
“Yeah no, just tightness. I think I’ll be fine for Sunday.”
How does it feel to score your first senior goal I think?
“Yeah my first senior one, great occasion and a great place to do it and a very important one as well.”
You must’ve been close to scoring at some point in your career?
“Yeah but I’ve just never had the luck to get it in but this time, it was right place right time.”
Did it feel quite special? Your celebration was quite ecstatic!
“I didn’t know what to do, I just jumped up everywhere!”
Is that something the manager has been telling you to make those late runs into the box and try and anticipate the ball coming across?
“We worked on it and we watched it before. They don’t track runners into the box so again, it’s just about the right timing.”
What was it like coming up against some quality players in that team, what was it like coming up against them tonight?
“There were some quality players (for Benfica). But I thought we did well as well. Their goals were created from our mistakes so but credit to us, we kept going and ground out a result that gives us great confidence going into next week.”
Dujon, sometimes being able to play different positions can be a curse but you’re making it work for you and adapt to what you’re asked to do…
“Yeah, I just try my best and all anyone can ask of you is to give 100 percent and that’s what I try to do.”
There was a couple of World Cup winners in their team as well, everyone competed well. That must just give everyone huge confidence of what you can be capable of?
“We saw it when we played (Real) Betis as well away from home, they had World Cup winners in their squad as well. So I don’t think that was anything new for us.
“We’ve always had the belief that we can play against the best and that’s what we’re proving.”
We’ve seen what Ibrox can be like on a big night as well, can that give you the edge possibly next week?
“Yeah hopefully it does because their crowd got them back into it as well so hopefully for us next week the place is rocking.”
Where does the goal rank in your career so far? It’s a big moment for you personally though and the team too?
“Number one, it’s the only one! I’m just trying to do my bit for the team. The gaffer said if we you play out wide, obviously you have to rack up numbers as well.
“You might only have one or two moments in the game and that’s what happened today, one moment to score. So it’s an important goal and we carry it on to next week.”
Were you worried that VAR was going to take it (the goal) off you?
“Nah because I ran from the edge of the box and they didn’t track me all the way so I don’t know why they were checking an offside for so long.”
