Artmedia Bratislava 2 Rangers 2: Rangers were forced to settle for a share of the points when they were twice clawed back by Artmedia Bratislava last night. Dado Prso's early opener was cancelled out by Balazs Borbely, before Steven Thompson restored Rangers' lead - however, a Jan Kozak strike earned Artmedia a point.
Questions had been asked of Alex McLeish's ability to take Rangers forward in what has been a difficult season and it remains to be seen what impact this result will have on his future as manager.
A string of poor results in the Scottish Premier League, which has seen Rangers ship 17 points in 13 games, meant the trip to Slovakia provided welcome respite from the domestic campaign.
But expectations in the Champions League were no less great and Rangers knew a win would boost their chances of becoming the first Scottish club to reach the knock-out stages. The 2,500 travelling fans, packed into a corner of the SK Slovan Stadium, released red and blue flares ahead of the game, but it was flair on the pitch they came to see.
McLeish, knowing the game could have an impact on his future, needed a reaction from his players and got exactly that when Rangers surged into the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
Brahim Hemdani presided over a free-kick 20 yards out, which was met by the head of Sotirios Kyrgiakos at the back post, and he nodded into the path of Prso. The Croatian hitman could not miss from a yard out.
But Rangers' joy turned to misery when Artmedia were back on level terms five minutes later. A Blazej Vascak corner sparked a scramble in the box and the ball eventually broke to Borbely who stabbed home from close range.
Rangers were back in the lead a minute before the break. Fernando Ricksen played a short pass to Prso, who squeezed the ball into the path of Thompson to bullet home a header at the back post.
After the break Artmedia looked more dangerous and only a last-gasp clearance off the line by Olivier Bernard prevented Branislav Obzera from finding the back of the net.
But Rangers were helpless to deny their hosts another equaliser after 59 minutes. Ronald Waterreus was caught well off his line, with only Kyrgiakos protecting the gaping goal when the ball broke to Kozak. And the Greek defender could do nothing to stop the thunderous drive.
ARTMEDIA BRATISLAVA: Cobej, Petras, Debnar, Durica, Urbanek, Vascak (Tchur 83), Kozak, Borbely, Fodrek, Obzera (Stano 87), Hartig (Halenar 73). Subs not used: Kamenar, Mikulic, Konecny, Burak. Booked: Fodrek. Goals: Borbely 8, Kozak 59.
RANGERS: Waterreus, Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Bernard (Murray 90), Ricksen, Ferguson, Hemdani, Lovenkrands, Thompson (Jeffers 70), Prso. Subs not used: Klos, Andrews, Alex Rae, Burke, Namouchi. Booked: Kyrgiakos, Ferguson. Goals: Prso 3, Thompson 44.
Referee: F Meyer (Germany).
