Tom Lawrence rues 'rotten' Rangers luck but eyes opened to huge Ibrox chance in Benfica battle

Tom Lawrence shut his eyes and hoped for the best at the Stadium of Light.

But the Rangers goal hero reckons his side are staring at a huge chance at Ibrox next week as they look to reach the Europa League last eight. The former Derby skipper headed the visitors into an early Lisbon lead before Angel Di Maria, Dujon Sterling and Connor Goldson's own goal ensured it finished all square. But there’s still work to be done in Glasgow next week if Philippe Clement’s men are to pen a happy ending after Benfica twice responded to Lawrence’s seventh-minute header and a Dujon Sterling strike to claim a 2-2 draw.

But Lawro is confident in his side’s chances. He said: “It’s even Stevens, isn’t it? Look, it was a tough game but we’re coming away with a draw and we’ll go again. But 100 percent we believe that we can take the tie back to Ibrox and get the result that takes us through to the quarter-finals. It doesn’t matter who we play at Ibrox, we believe we will win that game and hopefully we do that.

“I’m not going to bring individuals into it but as a team I thought we were outstanding. I thought we dug deep and maybe should have scored a few more. On the other hand it was two sloppy goals that we conceded but we’re coming away with a draw and it’s all to play for.”

Angel Di Maria squared things up with a penalty after John Souttar was hardly judged by VAR to have handled in the box. And the Argentina winger was involved again as his free-kick was turned into the Gers net by Connor Goldson. Lawrence said: “The goals we conceded were just sheer rotten luck. Sometimes it just goes like that unfortunately. Hopefully we get some better luck back at home.”

The midfielder pounced seven minutes in to give Gers a dream start but the