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Rangers hold off PSV

Second choice goalkeeper Neil Alexander shut out PSV Eindhoven in Holland to hand Rangers a fighting chance of progressing to the last eight of the Europa League.

The Scottish champions sprang a surprise by naming Alexander in goal, with first choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor on the bench, and boss Walter Smith no doubt mindful of the Co-operative Insurance Cup final looming this month.

And the move paid off as Rangers claimed a goalless draw that will give them hope of finishing the job in front of their own fans when the Dutch travel to Ibrox for next week’s second leg.

El-Hadji Diouf again took on the lone striker role he performed in the last round against Sporting Lisbon and Rangers were also boosted by the return of Kyle Lafferty after he recovered from tonsillitis.

Young midfielder Kyle Hutton, who yesterday signed a new deal with the Scottish champions, was also handed a starting place for the clash, having already featured in the Champions League this season against Manchester United and Bursaspor.

There was drama for Rangers before a ball was even kicked with the news assistant manager Ally McCoist had been handed a two-match touchline ban following his altercation with Celtic boss Neil Lennon after last week’s Old Firm derby.

Once the game was under way, PSV were out of the traps quickly and Marcus Berg went to ground in the box under pressure from Madjid Bougherra but there appeared to be little in the incident and there was no penalty award.

Berg could have grabbed the opener when he tried to run onto a slick pass from Ola Toivonen but Alexander raced off his line to make a brave block before Berg could connect and slot home.

The home side had the best of the chances early on and Jeremain Lens was next to have a crack at goal but his shot was blocked by Kyle Bartley as PSV continued to press for the opener.

Lens was threatening again, this time weaving his way past a couple of Rangers players only to screw his shot over the crossbar.

PSV then passed up a great chance to take the lead when Balazs Dzsudzsak’s free-kick was flicked on by Lens for Marcelo who somehow managed to nod wide of target when he looked certain to leave the net bulging.

Rangers looked more lively after the restart and Richard Foster embarked on an impressive run that took him into the box but his attempt to pick out Diouf in front of goal was poor and the danger was cleared.

PSV still looked dangerous and had the Rangers defence under pressure when Toivonen’s pass was collected by Berg only for the forward to drag his shot agonisingly wide of the upright from close range.

Stanislav Manolev was fortunate to escape a caution when he appeared to go down easily in the area under pressure from Bartley.

The on-loan Arsenal defender then almost claimed a crucial away goal for Rangers when he threw himself in front of Diouf’s corner and connected with a firm header that was touched wide by goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.

Rangers made their first change of the night after 64 minutes when Diouf was withdrawn for Vladimir Weiss, who had been rated doubtful with a bruised foot.

Marcelo had already squandered a decent chance in the first half and he was left holding his head in his hands again after nodding narrowly past the post when he should have at least found the target.

Lafferty then hooked wide for Rangers, before making way for the introduction of youngster Gregg Wylde for the last 10 minutes.

Smith’s men were able to see out the remainder of the game and return to Glasgow with a clean-sheet ahead of the second leg.

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Benfica bounce back for win

Benfica recovered from a goal down to beat an under-strength Paris St Germain 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at the Estadio da Luz.

Franco Jara scored the winner in the 81st minute to give last season’s quarter-finalists a slender advantage heading into next week’s second leg.

Despite resting a number of their key players, PSG made a bright start and claimed their crucial away goal after 17 minutes through Peguy Luyindula.

The French side could even have had a second moments later when Mevlut Erdinc fired against the post, but Maxi Pereira equalised just before the break before Jara’s late match-winner.

PSG coach Antoine Kombouare opted to take a weakened team to Portugal after prioritising his team’s battle at the top of the Ligue 1 table over European progress.

That meant Christophe Jallet, Ludovic Giuly, Claude Makelele and Guillaume Hoarau were all left in Paris, but despite their absences the visitors made a storming start.

Erdinc forced Benfica goalkeeper Roberto into action for the first time after five minutes before recalled defender Sammy Traore headed a Nene corner narrowly over.

Brazilian midfielder Nene was at the centre of PSG’s best moves early on and it was his craft that provided the opener in the 14th minute when he laid the ball on for Luyindula to score from six yards.

The visitors were then denied a second goal by the woodwork four minutes later when Nene again sliced open the defence with a cross that Erdinc directed against a post.

Mathieu Bodmer shot wide from a Nene free-kick before Benfica finally started to bare their teeth on the half-hour.

Oscar Cardozo drew a pair of saves from Edel Bete in the space of four minutes, the second of which saw the best of the Armenia international as he tipped a 25-yard drive wide.

Benfica’s spirited response earned them an equaliser four minutes before half-time when Maxi Pereira scored from 12 yards thanks to a Carlos Martins assist.

It was a rare period of pressure from the hosts, however, and they were again on the back foot after the break with Nene shooting wide before Erdinc saw a shot blocked.

But after keeping their hosts at bay for long periods, PSG were again made to pay for a lapse late in the half when Argentinian midfielder Jara found space to score with a right-footed shot from just outside the area.

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Guarin strike enough for Porto

Fredy Guarin’s strike 20 minutes from time was enough to give Porto a narrow 1-0 Europa League advantage against CSKA Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The Colombia midfielder beat Igor Akinfeev from the edge of the box to give the Portuguese Liga leaders the advantage heading into the last-16 second leg.

It was a fair enough result after Porto shaded the best of what chances there were, though both sides were in the main reduced to shooting from distance.

Falcao tested Akinfeev after five minutes, the CSKA goalkeeper punching clear his shot from 18 yards.

Guarin was next to try his luck moments later but his strike from distance was held by Akinfeev.

Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez also sent in shots from outside the box before 10 minutes were up, but neither could test Akinfeev.

After that the balance shifted with play moving largely down the other end.

Helton held onto Vagner Love’s shot from 12 yards in the 13th minute, then fisted away an 18-yard strike from the Brazilian.

Their personal battle resumed in the 23rd minute with the goalkeeper punching clear another effort, before Kirill Nababkin fired Keisuke Honda’s cross over the bar, but it was Porto who finished the half stronger.

Akinfeev caught Falcao’s free-kick and beat away Guarin’s long-range effort, while Cristian Sapunaru’s shot was wayward.

It was more of the same after the break with plenty of shots raining in, but few from really dangerous areas.

Joao Moutinho and Hulk both tried their luck but failed really to stretch Akinfeev.

As Porto pressed the chances started to get better and Sapunaru headed Hulk’s free-kick over the bar from 12 yards after 66 minutes.

If either side was going to score, Porto seemed the more likely and so it proved as Guarin beat Akinfeev with a low strike from the edge of the box.

That spurred CSKA into life, with Pavel Mamaev and Vagner Love both firing wide.

Helton was called into action from Seydou Doumbia’s shot, but he held on – and so did Porto.

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Alex stunner sinks Ajax

Alex’s second-half strike secured Spartak Moscow an undeserved 1-0 victory over Ajax in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at the Amsterdam ArenA.

The Brazilian notched the game’s only goal 12 minutes after the interval to stun the hosts, who who had bossed proceedings in terms of possession.

Frank de Boer’s side huffed and puffed in search of the equaliser they more than merited but were unable to find a way past Spartak goalkeeper Andrei Dikan despite a corner count of 13 to zero.

Dikan was called into his first action as early as the first minute, saving low at his near post from Siem de Jong’s snap-shot, while teenage winger Lorenzo Ebecilio saw an effort blocked by Kirill Kombarov in the sixth minute and De Jong glanced a header over the bar soon after.

Another blast from the lively Ebecilio in the 12th minute, after cutting in from the left, needed tipping over the bar by Dikan, and the visiting stopper was then out quickly to smother at the feet of Demy De Zeeuw following Miralem Sulejmani’s ball over the top.

De Zeeuw mustered a couple more sights of goal for himself but could find no way past Dikan, his first attempt kept out by the goalkeeper and he failed to make proper contact with the second when well placed.

Republic of Ireland forward Aiden McGeady caused the first minor worry for the Ajax defence in the 36th minute, his cross causing momentary panic in the box before goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg cleared.

Back at the other end, Sulejmani curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide with his left foot two minutes later and then swung in a corner from which Dikan kept out a powerful De Jong header as Ajax continued their fruitless pursuit of a first-half opener.

The pattern of the game remained the same for the opening 10 minutes of the second period, De Zeeuw launching himself to connect with Ebecilio’s floated ball into the box only to head straight at Dikan.

Then, in the 57th minute, the visitors nicked what could prove a vital away goal against the run of play.

Alex got the better of a tussle with Daley Blind on the corner of the box before curling a left-footed shot past Stekelenburg to stun the home crowd.

De Jong had two decent opportunities to equalise within eight minutes, but failed to work the keeper. He first directed an effort wide from Sulejmani’s corner – seemingly off his shoulder – and then shinned another attempt wide.

Ebecilio tried his luck from distance only to see Dikan keep it out with a strong left arm, with De Jong just unable to get to the rebound.

Spartak were at last offering something themselves going forward, and Stekelenburg had to be alert to prevent Kombarov’s vicious low cross from sneaking in.

But Dikan remained the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Ebecilio made room for a left-footed shot in the 83rd minute which the Spartak stopper did well to beat away for a corner, and he then pulled off an even better save in stoppage time – flying to his left to tip Christian Eriksen’s curling shot out for a corner which came to nothing.

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City suffer in Kiev

Manchester City will need to display all their attacking strength next week if they are to remain in the Europa League.

They are chasing a two-goal deficit after former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko and Oleg Gusev handed Dynamo Kiev a useful advantage in this last-16 first leg match.

To complete a frustrating night for manager Roberto Mancini, Mario Balotelli came off in the second half with the Italian striker claiming to be unwell.

After a bright start City showed nothing like the kind of form that marked them down as tournament favourites.

They knew it would be a tough test in freezing conditions as Dynamo went into the match having lost only one of their past 16 games.

With Carlos Tevez on the bench Gareth Barry was handed the captain’s armband.

David Silva threaded the ball through to Micah Richards in the 11th minute only for goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskly to block his path.

Balotelli then tried to release Edin Dzeko in the 18th minute only to put too much weight on the pass and the ball drifted out of play.

City kept up the momentum and won a free-kick 25 yards out but Aleksandar Kolarov sent his effort into the goalkeeper’s body.

Dynamo took the lead with their first attempt on goal in the 24th minute when Shevchenko poked home following a cross from Andriy Yarmolenko.

Shevchenko’s goal rocked City with the striker showing that at 34 he has not lost his scoring instincts.

The home side were growing in confidence and this was a testing spell for City.

Dynamo after all had hammered Turkish side Besiktas 8-1 on aggregate in the last round to progress in style.

Shevchenko then cut the ball back from the byline into the area in the 40th minute after an incisive move.

However Pablo Zabaleta was well positioned and cleared the ball to safety to City’s relief.

Back came Dynamo and Gusev dragged a shot wide of the post on the stroke of half time from 18 yards.

Balotelli was late arriving for the start of the second half and appeared to be in some distress.

He was clutching his face with reports on TV stating the Italian striker was claiming to be unwell.

Mancini, however, was in no hurry to take him off and Balotelli suffered further misery in the 54th minute when he was booked for a challenge on Ayila Yussuf.

Three minutes later Balotelli headed for the dressing room and was replaced by Tevez.

City almost drew level in the 59th minute when Barry laid the ball back to Yaya Toure on the edge of the area.

He struck his shot sweet and true only for the goalkeeper to get down quickly and turn it around the post.

Dynamo continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and Artem Milevskiy got into a good position only to deliver a weak shot that Hart saved comfortably.

City hit back and Joleon Lescott tried his luck on goal in the 68th minute only for Shovkovskly to make the save.

City’s troubles increased in the 77th minute when Dynamo forged 2-0 ahead after poor defending.

Richards failed to deal with a flick on from Milevskiy and Gusev smashed a volley home from eight yards.

Tevez gave City some dynamism but they were unable to pull a goal back and there is much work to be done next week if their European campaign is to continue.

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