GLASGOW, Aug 23: Rangers twice let a lead slip away in a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of a Champions League qualifying playoff on Tuesday.
PSV captain Luuk de Jong’s header in the 80th minute though he appeared to know little about the decisive contact he made was a second leveler for the 1988 European Cup winner which hosts the return game next week. Rangers and PSV played to another 2-2 draw in Glasgow as they did at the same stage in Champions League qualifying exactly one year ago. Then, Rangers went on to win 1-0 in Eindhoven.
The Scottish club first led in the 45th when Senegal forward Abdallah Sima sent a rising shot past goalkeeper Walter Benitez. It resulted from PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangare losing the ball inside the penalty area.
Sangare made amends by equalizing in the 61st.
Rangers led again in the 76th when substitute Rabbi Matondo finished a fast break with a sweeping first-time shot. The advantage lasted less than four minutes before veteran Netherlands forward De Jong struck.
In other playoff first legs, Royal Antwerp held on with 10 men from the 50th minute for a 1-0 win over visiting AEK Athens, and Copenhagen won 1-0 in Poland against competition debutant Rakow Czestochowa.
Second-leg games are on Aug 30 and winners advance to the lucrative 32-team group stage. (PTI)
