Cyriel Dessers gave Rangers’ Champions League qualification hopes a massive shot in the arm with a last gasp equaliser against Dynamo Kyiv in Poland.
The Light Blues competed well for much of the game but were undone in the first half by a sloppy mistake when Ridvan Yilmaz was caught on the ball, which was clinically capitalised on by veteran Andriy Yarmolenko within two passes.
It looked as though the hosts were set for victory before substitute Vaclav Cerny delivered an inch perfect ball for Dessers to dispatch with the last action of the game.
There’s all to play for at Hampden next week with the riches of club football’s elite competition still very much in reach.
In the early exchanges, Yarmolenko fizzed a shot through the Rangers defence which Jack Butland parried away towards the head Vladyslav Vanat, who nodded home – only to be denied by an offside flag.
Rangers then almost opened the scoring themselves when Ross McCauland cracked a shot off of the post with 20 minutes in the clock. The 21-year old cut inside on to his left foot and whipped his effort goal-bound from just outside the area.
Philippe Clement’s side looked to be holding their own closing in on half time but the game at Champions League level can be ruthless, as they found out when they were punished for a moment of slack defending just seven minutes short of the break.
Ridvan Yilmaz was caught in possession in his own half before Vanat fired the ball across the box for the experienced Yarmolenko to turn home and open the scoring.
Summer acquisition Jefte was introduced at the break for Scott Wright and made an almost instant impact. The Brazilian whipped a dangerous cross towards the head of Dessers who glanced it towards the corner only to be denied by a fine stop from Georgi Bushchan.
There was still time for the forward to have his name up in the lights however when he latched on Cerny’s cross at the very death to secure a vital draw for Clement’s side.
