Rangers 2-2 PSV: Late Luuk De Jong leveller leaves Champions League play-off tie

History doesn’t always repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes. Twelve months since Rangers and PSV met in the same stadium at the same stage of Champions League qualifying a thrilling first leg ended once more with the same scoreline.

Heading for the Netherlands next week, Michael Beale can take heart. A strike from Antonio Colak earned a place in the group stage of UEFA’s elite competition under Giovanni van Bronckhorst this time last year. Despite the evidence of improvement from the Dutch side assembled by Peter Bosz, Rangers have given themselves a fighting chance.

Heroism comes, sometimes, from the most unlikely source. For most of his time at Ibrox, Rabbi Matondo has been a figure of arch frustraton. There was pace, directness and absolutely no idea what to do with the talents he was blessed with.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. With 14 minutes left to play here, Rangers claimed a highly promising lead over PSV for the second time with a stunning counter attack. Todd Cantwell nicked the ball through to Cyriel Dessers and, staying just onside, the striker played the pass of the night to Matondo.

Barely on the pitch a matter of minutes, the 22-year-old swept the ball into the net as supporters rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

The lead lasted all of four minutes. A PSV corner was headed on to the shoulder of the captain Luuk de Jong, the ball fizzing into the net past Jack Butland. Once again the first leg between these teams ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Given the dominance of the Dutch side for long spells, it was far from a bad outcome for Rangers.

The first rumbles of discontent around Ibrox told the story of a visiting team taking a grip on the game. Five minutes before half-time, Abdallah Sima was dispossessed in a