Rangers 0-0 Athletic Club: UEFA Europa League result as Liam Kelly penalty save earns 10-man Rangers crucial draw

Liam Kelly was the unlikely hero as the goalkeeper, promoted to the starting XI in place of Jack Butland, made a stunning save from Alex Berenguer’s penalty to earn Rangers a 0-0 draw against Athletic Club in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie.

It was an uphill battle for the hosts from the 13th minute, when Robin Propper was sent off for a foul on Inaki Williams.

The defender was originally only shown a yellow for a tackle on the edge of the area, but that decision was upgraded to a red for denying an obvious goalscoring chance following VAR intervention.

Despite their man advantage, it took a while for the visitors to truly test goalkeeper Liam Kelly, but as half-time approached, he made two fine stops from Maroan Sannadi and Oihan Sancet.

Rangers were not without their chances at the other end, though, as Cyriel Dessers twice came close, once with a fizzing shot from distance that swerved wide, and then an unmarked header that he put over the bar.

After the break, Sannadi should have done better when he slid wide of the near post from a fizzed right wing cross, and he was swiftly removed after that chance went begging.

His replacement, Berenguer, was straight into the thick of the action. He had a goal chalked off for offside immediately, but in that being ruled out, a penalty was awarded for a ridiculously harsh handball on Dujon Sterling after VAR once again got involved.

Berenguer took it himself, but his strike, straight down the middle, was expertly saved by the outstretched leg of Kelly.

"I just wanted to help the team, because you see how much effort they're putting in in front of you. I don't really care about me. I just want to help the team!

"I didn't really know what was happening. I think it was a VAR check and it was offside, it was a goal, I don't know. Obviously it was a penalty."

Liam Kelly has been speaking to TNT Sports after that display. "I saved it with my foot! To be fair, I never had much to do in the game. Once we went down to ten men, the boys were unbelievable.

"It was nice to help them out when they needed me, but I was never needed that much, thanks to their efforts!"

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TNT Sports' Alan Hutton has saluted that Rangers display.

"What a result," he says. "After going down to ten men after 12 minutes, the resilience that they showed, the work ethic that they showed...Barry questioned it, and they delivered that sort of performance.

"You look at Cerny and Hagi and how well they worked. It was absolutely incredible.

"To have a 0-0 draw here, something to look forward to next week, something to fight for, that's exactly what the manager would have wanted."

The full-time whistle is greeted by a huge cheer from the home fans, who have seen their team defend valiantly since having Robin Propper sent off early on.

Liam Kelly's late penalty save makes him the hero.

It's all to play for heading to Spain for the second leg!

He gets booked for a trip on Jefte, who was surging towards the edge of the penalty area

Sterling is now struggling with his fitness for Rangers and has limped off. They don't have any subs to bring on, so they are down to nine men for the final few minutes

Hagi is off, with Bajrami his replacement, while Cerny, who has had a quiet night, is hooked in favour of McCausland

He is replaced by Alvarez

12 minutes have been added on. Hardly surprising given the delays we have had.

He cuts inside on his right foot on the corner of the box and lofts a shot towards the far top corner, but Balogun flicks over with a clever defensive header

Athletic are camped in their half of the field now. The ten men of Rangers look tired, but they are defending stoutly and deeply. Will the visitors be able to find a way through?

Dessers is off, with Igamane on in his place

THAT IS SUPERB! The goalkeeper brought in to replace Butland saves with his legs. It's a stunning stop, raising his leg to divert a fiercely struck effort by Berenguer that is straight down the middle over the bar.

That's the decision the referee has come to. Sterling has, in the words of Ally McCoist, "no idea where the ball is." That is madness.

VAR are now looking at a potential handball by Sterling. If this is given, it is ludicrously harsh. The ball comes off Berenguer, he is inches away from Sterling, whom it hits on the arm. He can literally do nothing about that. But his arm is outstretched. We await the referee's decision

He might well be. The initial shot is saved, but Berenguer is past the goalkeeper when the shot is taken. The goalkeeper saves, and there is a defender on the line, but that defender is the only line of defence.

You need two defenders between man and ball when it is played. It has to be offside

Wow! He's only been on the field for a minute or so! But a ball over the top opens Rangers up. The initial shot is saved, but Berenguer is on hand to tuck home the rebound

Sancet is replaced by Berenguer