Uefa Champions League round of 16, first leg: Rangers 2 - Villarreal 2Rangers kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-final stage alive when they twice fought back from a goal down to earn a draw at Ibrox last night.
Juan Roman Riquelme's penalty was cancelled out by Peter Lovenkrands, and Diego Forlan appeared to have bagged the winner for Villarreal - however, an own goal from Juan Manuel Pena threw Rangers a lifeline.
Dado Prso cost Rangers the opening goal when he foolishly handled in the area. Referee Eric Poulat pointed to the spot and the talismanic Riquelme converted with ease from 12 yards.
Gradually the Ibrox side forced their way back into the game and, on 28 minutes, Chris Burke passed to Lovenkrands and he left goalkeeper Sebastian Viera with no chance - rifling home from the edge of the box.
However, Rangers were behind again 10 minutes before the break. Gonzalo played the ball to Forlan and he rammed the ball to the roof of the net.
Rangers, though, equalised after 82 minutes when a Buffel cross was deflected into the back of his own net by Pena.
RANGERS: Waterreus, Hutton, Rodriguez, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Burke, Hemdani, Ferguson, Namouchi (Buffel 69), Prso (Kris Boyd 89), Lovenkrands (Novo 75). Subs not used: Klos, Ricksen, Andrews, Murray. Booked: Rodriguez, Prso.
VILLARREAL: Viera, Javi Venta, Pena, Rodriguez, Arruabarrena (Sorin 61), Senna, Josico, Riquelme (Arzo 90), Tacchinardi, Forlan, Jose Mari (Roger 84). Subs not used: Barbosa, Guayre, Calleja, Hector Font. Booked: Arruabarrena, Forlan, Viera.
Referee: E Poulat (France).
