3 key Fenerbahce vs Rangers ref calls from 'weird' VAR angle denying Dessers to Mourinho protest being tuned out
It was a massive night for Barry Ferguson as he led Rangers to victory over Fenerbahce and within touching distance of the quarter-final.
Cyriel Dessers was the star man as he opened the scoring with a Vaclav Cerny double leaving the iconic boss stunned. Going into the Europa League second leg, Alexander Djiku offered the visitors something to hold onto with Jose Mourinho left with a major rethink having been stunned by Rangers on their own turf.
Spanish referee Alejandro Hernández had a busy evening in Istanbul - and the visitors have been left to ponder what could have been had VAR not played a key role in the showdown. Cesar Soto Grado was on VAR duties and played a major role in proceedings - and could play a major factor in what happens to the Light Blues' progession. But what were the big talking points? Record Sport takes a look.
READ MORE: Ally McCoist reveals Rangers 'secret' Barry Ferguson let him in on as Jose Mourinho stumped
Caglar Soyuncu 'clears' off the line
It was the perfect start for Rangers - but it was so close to going the other way. Caglar Soyuncu thought he had cleared Dessers' low drive off the line after Rangers capitalised on some sloppy defending from the home side. But, the watch on the man in the middle's wrist signalled otherwise.
Mourinho and the Fener players protested - but it was JUST over the line, with Ally McCoist on TNT Sports commentary adding: "It's just over the line. It's poor play but you can see it - it's just crossed the line. The defender did exceptionally well, it's so tight."
First Cyriel Dessers 'offside' goal
The Light Blues were flying in the second half again - and looked to have netted their third of the evening as Dessers found the net. The frontman latched on to the rebound after Nicolas Raskin was denied from range - but after a VAR check he was adjudged to have been offside with his upper body narrowly going beyond last man Filip Kostic.
As the lines were drawn, former Rangers striker Steven Thompson was left baffled. He told BBC Sportsound: "I would love to know why (he is offside). How weird is that angle? To the naked eye he looks on - but sometimes you get these angles from the side and you go 'what?'"
Second Cyriel Dessers 'offside' goal
A sweeping counter attack was rounded off by the striker again - but once again he saw his celebrations curtailed by VAR. After sliding the ball beyond Irfan Egribayat and into the bottom corner, the off-field team deemed that he had gone beyond Milan Skriniar.
McCoist saw: "I thought the first one was on, but there was dubiety about the second one." Thompson agreed: 'You are talking inches he is off. He must be spewing out there."
