Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has singled out one Rangers star for praise after the 2-2 draw with Benfica on Thursday.
Next week, after being pushed back twice by the Portuguese powerhouses in the first leg of the Europa League last 16, the Gers will return to Ibrox with the scoreline.
For the Rangers that evening, Dujon Sterling stroked home the second goal after Tom Lawrence headed the first. Connor Goldson’s own goal and Angel Di Maria’s penalty, frustratingly, leveled the score in Lisbon.
Fabio Silva was named by Philippe Clement as one of the team’s standout players of the evening, but Ferguson felt compelled to acknowledge Sterling’s achievements.
The adaptable right-back played brilliantly when he was used on the flank. FotMob reports that Sterling made five crucial defensive plays, had three touches in the opponent’s box, and had a 100% shot accuracy and tackle rate.
Just before halftime, he scored a goal that was well-deserved given his overall effort. The Rangers staff and players worked hard to help him enter the Benfica box undetected, and he put the ball home with ease.
Ferguson is still in awe of Sterling’s intensity and passion for the game, as he writes in his Daily Record column. Furthermore, the former Ibrox captain expresses how much he would have loved to have used the same changing room as the former Chelsea player.
Barry Ferguson on penalty and Dujon Sterling
Barry Ferguson started off by lamenting the Rangers penalty call, calling it a “baffling” choice. He continued by praising Sterling’s individual performance before highlighting the Rangers’ tenacity.
Saying, “I must admit, I felt the same myself,” the 44-year-old spoke. I must admit that I felt a tiny bit let down by Rangers’ loss there. It probably didn’t help that they dropped their first two heartbreaking goals.
It’s obvious that John Souttar headed the ball into his own hand, so if it’s a penalty kick, I’m afraid I have no idea what the rules are anymore.
Additionally, he forced his own goalie to make a superb reaction save by deflecting the ball towards goal while it was headed for a corner.
“On what planet is Benfica receiving that as a penalty? However, as Clement himself stated, there’s no use whining about it now because you can see confusing decisions being made everywhere you turn.
“Connor Goldson made a poor goal for himself. There isn’t another way to phrase it. But once more, I have to give the Rangers credit for standing their ground and not giving up in the face of difficulty.
Dujon Sterling deserves special recognition because, over the past few months, he has essentially filled every position save goalie.
His zealousness spreads easily. He has absurd amounts of energy. And he has been incredibly flexible in adjusting to different responsibilities within the squad.
“He doesn’t only function in the role that is assigned to him. He’s great at all of them, and as a teammate, I know I’d love to have him in my changing room.
“I get the impression from him that he is eager to learn new things and advance as a player. Additionally, he is a clear winner, and I will take that on my team any day of the week.
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