The Gers headed into the game knowing victory would book their place in the knockout stages in the new year, but after a fast start they found themselves behind through a Shavy Babicka as they went into the half time interval behind.
There was a special individual moment to come in the second period as Ross McCausland was on hand to score his first Rangers goal. The hosts probed in the final quarter of the game but were unable to find a winner as they now head to Spain to take on Real Betis on matchday six with all to play for, but with a guarantee of European football after Christmas.
Manager Philippe Clement named three changes to the starting lineup from the weekend’s match against Aberdeen. John Souttar, Ben Davies and Sam Lammers came as in as they replaced the suspended Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun, who isn’t named in the Europa League squad and Tom Lawrence, who was named on the bench.
Rangers almost got off to the perfect start inside the first minute in front of a packed Ibrox crowd. Abdallah Sima found himself in a promising position deep inside the penalty after a ricochet, closing in on goal he looked to place the ball beyond Vana Alves who made a sharp save before the chance was halted as the referee awarded a free-kick.
The Gers knew they would seal qualification to the knockout stages with a victory in Glasgow. They came out the blocks quickly as they looked to go ahead early on. A chance on the edge of the area presented itself to Jose Cifuentes, the midfielder opted against the shot after the space had opened up before the ball fell to John Lundstram whose effort from distance went down the throat of the goalkeeper.
Limassol had their first effort of the contest just after the 10-minute mark. The ball was worked down the right side before the switch of play fell to the arriving Caju, his shot was well stuck and needed saving as Jack Butland did superbly to turn it round the post.
After a quiet spell in the game in terms of clear-cut opportunities the home side’s next chance came via a set piece. A corner was flicked on at the near post by Sima on the stretch before it was met by John Souttar around the penalty spot, but the Scotland international was off balance and could only turn his effort on the volley over.
The Light Blues went agonisingly close to taking the lead and it was Lundstram with an effort from range once again. The midfielder received the ball 25-yards from goal, he combined with Todd Cantwell playing a clever one two before his strike whistled past the near post with Alves beaten.
In the next phase of play it was the away side that took the lead through Shavy Babicka. A ball over the top from Aleksandr Kokorin inside the Limassol half looped over the Gers defence and was met by the frontman, he composed himself and rounded the onrushing Jack Butland before rolling the ball into the empty net to give the Cypriot side the lead.
The hosts introduced Ross McCausland as they looked for a response before the break. Clement’s side began controlling possession as the game approached the interval but they were unable to carve the visitors open to create any chances to level up the contest.
Rangers looked to make a fast second half start as they looked to level up proceedings at Ibrox. Borna Barisic looked to turn provider as his looped cross found the head of Danilo, but the Brazilian saw the effort come off his shoulder and go wide of the near post.
Moments later Ross McCausland’s dream week got even better as he netted his first Rangers goal. Fresh off the back of signing his new deal the youngster was on hand to level up the match as the Gers got the response they were looking for. The hosts robbed the Limassol defence deep inside their own half through Danilo, the striker acknowledged the Northern Irishman well placed to his right. He took a touch and fired a shot across goal which found the net off the post as the 20-year-old squared up the match.
Rangers continued to probe as the pressure ramped up on the hour-mark. Substitute Tom Lawrence spotted the run of Danilo inside the area; however the forward couldn’t bring the lofted through ball down as it ran through to Vana Alves in the Limassol goal.
It was McCausland once again who almost flipped the game on its head. Rangers broke away on the counter-attack through the winger who used Lawrence. The midfielder returned the favour to find the youngster who opted against the right footed effort before cutting inside, but the traffic saw the angle closed down before his effort was kept out and turned behind in the second phase.
From the following corner the Gers went close again. John Souttar rose highest in the area as he headed it goalwards before Danilo got a flick on it, but the ball landed in the hands of Alves much to the visitors relief as the score remained level.
It was the Barisic and Danilo combo that linked up again as the Gers continued to press for a second. The full-back got the better of Steeve Yago down the left flank before floating a ball into the area, but the striker’s header meant for a comfortable save to the keeper’s left side.
Five additional minutes were added at the end of the contest as Rangers looked for the goal that would take them through. Rabbi Matondo had a chance after cutting in from the left side, but his effort went lacked the desired power as it went past the near post as the match ended level with the group now evenly poised with all four sides still able to qualify heading into the final round of games.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Cifuentes, Lammers (Lawrence 57), Cantwell (McCausland 36) Sima (Matondo 79), Danilo.
SUBS: McCrorie, K. Wright, Dessers, Sterling, Roofe, King, Devine, McKinnon.
ARIS LIMASSOL: Vana, Caju, Moussounda, Bengtsson (Brorsson 89) , Kokorin, Yago, Mayambela (Montnor 74), Struski (Brown 90), Szoke, Urosevic, Babicka (Stepinski 63)
SUBS: Chrysostomou, Sofroniou, Spoljaric, Dimitriou