Rangers battle to draw

Wednesday, 22, Feb 2006 11:35

Rangers battled back twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Villarreal at Ibrox in the Champions League.

The Spanish side twice took the lead, only for the Gers to level on both occasions and it will be all to play for in two weeks time.

It is the first time a Scottish side has made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League but the occasion turned into a nightmare for the home fans on eight minutes as Villarreal were awarded a penalty.

Rangers striker Dado Prso bizarrely stuck his hand up to Rodolfo Arruabarrena's corner and French referee Eric Poulat had no option but to point to the spot.

Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, who had missed the last ten games with a knee injury, had no trouble in dispatching the penalty and Alex McLeish's side were one down.

They could have been two down soon after as Riquelme's free-kick was put in by Gonzalo Rodriguez only for it to be ruled out for offside.

However, to Rangers credit, they battled back and were level on 22 minutes as the ball broke to Peter Lovenkrands on the edge of the box and the Dane smashed the ball into the top corner.

Diego Forlan then had another Villarreal effort chalked off for offside before he did give the Spaniards the lead again on 35 minutes as he scored from another Riquelme free-kick.

The Spanish side couldn't extend their lead, despite good chances falling to Forlan and Julien Rodriguez, and were punished with eight minutes to go as substitute Thomas Buffel's cross was deflected into his own net by Juan Manuel Pena.