Rangers 1 Sporting Lisbon 1:RANGERS WERE dealt a blow when Matias Fernandez grabbed a late leveller to deny them victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League at Ibrox last night.

Steven Whittaker – who netted a superb goal against the same team en-route to the Uefa Cup final three years ago – was on the scoresheet again last night but it was not enough to claim victory.

Rangers looked dangerous after the interval and could have been ahead within a minute of the restart when Whittaker’s shot drew a decent save from Patricio.

Rangers continued to press for the opener and Kyle Lafferty saw his shot deflected past goal before Sasa Papac’s effort from distance went wide. The breakthrough came after 66 minutes when Whittaker rose above everyone in the box to meet Vladimir Weiss’ corner and dispatch a powerful header into the back of the net.

Sporting claimed what could be a crucial away goal with a minute to go when substitute Fernandez met a cross from the right and bulleted a header past McGregor. The tie now hangs in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg in Lisbon.

RANGERS:McGregor, Foster, Bougherra, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Edu, Davis, Weiss, Diouf, Lafferty. Subs not used: Alexander, Fleck, Naismith, Healy, Bartley, Wylde, Hutton. Booked: Bougherra, Diouf, Weiss, Lafferty. Goal: Whittaker 66.

SPORTING: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Daniel Carrico, Anderson Polga, Evaldo, Mendes, Maniche (Fernandez 77), Zapater, Cristiano (Carlos Saleiro 74), Postiga (Diogo Solomao 85), Djalo. Subs not used:Tiago, Andre Santos, Coelho, Vukcevic. Booked: Djalo, Daniel Carrico. Goal: Fernandez 89.

Referee: Manuel Grafe(Germany).