Rangers prevailed in a seven-goal thriller against Antwerp as they emerged with a 4-3 win in a Europa League classic.
A match which saw both sides throw caution to the wind featured three penalties, a red card and a dramatic late turnaround as the visitors put one foot in the next round.
A calamitous piece of goalkeeping saw Joe Aribo open the scoring, only for Antwerp to turn it around before half-time.
Borna Barisic equalised from the spot early in the second half only for the hosts to retake the lead.
Substitute Ryan Kent produced a magnificent finish to get his side back on terms though, and a second penalty from Barisic secured a vital, if crazy, result.
There were some real surprises in the Rangers line-up as Steven Gerrard clearly had the physical threat of the Belgians on his mind.
Both Ryan Jack and Ryan Kent started on the bench, with no place for European specialist Ianis Hagi either.
Scott Arfield returned to the starting XI having made his first appearance in eight games in the win over Kilmarnock.
The hosts went for a 3-4-3 shape with Jordan Lukaku, brother of Inter star Romelu, at left wing-back.
There was an early VAR check for a possible handball in the Belgian box but the video officials decided there was nothing for Georgi Kabakov to review.
Antwerp caused problems in wide areas early on as the wing-backs found plenty of space on the flanks.
Borna Barisic's slip allowed Aurelio Buta time and space in the box but his cutback couldn't find a Belgian attacker.
Rangers suffered a blow with 20 minutes played as James Tavernier jarred his knee in a challenge.
The captain tried to come back on but but almost immediately collapsed to the turf and had to be taken off.
Despite that Rangers had their best spell of the game in the immediate aftermath, with Alfredo Morelos spurning a golden chance to grab a vital away goal.
As it turned out though there was no grabbing required as Antwerp handed it to their opponents on a plate.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand looked to have comfortably gathered from the feet of Kemar Roofe but inexplicably spilled it.
He tried to recover but could only stab the ball out to Joe Aribo who had the simple task of stroking into an empty net.
Based on what we've seen this season you'd have backed Rangers to see it out until at least half-time but Antwerp got level just before the break.
Felipe Avenatti was left unmarked just inside the box and the Uruguayan guided a fantastic header into the top corner that left Allan McGregor with no chance.
There was another enforced substitution before the break as Kemar Roofe pulled up and was replaced by Ryan Kent, and you began to get the sense it wasn't Rangers' night when a penalty was awarded in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Steven Davis caught Lior Refaelov on the ankle and after a VAR check it was deemed the contact was enough for a spot kick.
The Israeli international stepped up to take it himself and blasted it beyond McGregor to leave Gerrard's men trailing at the break.
VAR may taketh away but it giveth too, and Rangers got a spot kick of their own early in the second half.
Morelos had his shirt pulled as he went up for a header and this time the referee was called to review.
After viewing the incident on the pitchside monitor Kabakov awarded the penalty and Borna Barisic stepped up to convert.
The drama wasn't done there though as Antwerp took the lead once again.
The dangerous Refaelov found space on the edge of the box to tee up Martin Hongla to rifle it into the corner from range.
Substitute Ianis Hagi should have made it 3-3 but he somehow managed to stab wide after latching on to a brilliant Barisic cross.
The visitors did find an equaliser in a madcap game though, and they did it in style.
Kent and Morelos combined well as the Colombian teed-up his teammate in the box.
The winger dropped a shoulder and shuffled inside before rifling a right-footed shot into the far corner.
Kent could have won it on the night but substitute goalkeeper Ortin de Wolf got a foot on his one-on-one finish.
Almost immediately Antwerp had a golden chance of their own with McGregor forced into a brilliant stop.
The veteran was called into action again as he beat one away at his far post before Ryan Jack was forced to clear off the line from the rebound.
It wasn't done there either as Rangers got a second penalty.
Ryan Kent's shot was blocked by Abdoulaye Seck's hand and the referee pointed to the spot and produced a second yellow for the Antwerp defender.
It was Barisic who stepped up again and it was the same result as he converted the seventh goal of a bonkers game.
5 talking points
Magnificent madness
Seven goals, three penalties, a red card and bags of chances for either side - this was a thriller.
Some of the defending was comical but both sides played at 100 miles per hour, going blow-for-blow in a frankly ludicrous game.
Even when Barisic converted a 90th minute penalty, his second of the game, you didn't feel the scoring was over.
Neither manager will want to see such a disorganised game next week but we'll sign up for another round right now.
Rangers dig deep
Rangers looked in danger of losing for the first time in the Europa League this season and there were certainly areas of concern for Gerrard.
In the cold light of day however the Ibrox boss may well choose to take the positives.
On a night where they were far from their best Rangers grabbed four away goals and won a tricky tie against a good opponent.
Their customary solidity abandoned them and that won't have pleased the manager but ultimately Rangers have one foot in the next round.
Var - what is it good for?
Rangers saw both sides of VAR in an incident-packed game, with the video technology coming under the spotlight.
Connor Goldson had a handball claim in the Antwerp box, but the video assistants didn't deem it worthy of a penalty.
Then the Bulgarian referee did award a spot kick in the dying minutes of the first half which, though soft, didn't mean the "clear and obvious" standard for VAR.
That left Rangers fuming but they were glad to have the technology in the first half when a foul on Alfredo Morelos was picked up and led to Borna Barisic's equaliser.
Right-back issues
If Nathan Patterson didn't feel daft when being booked by the police on Saturday night he surely does now.
The youngster has been suspended by the club for breaching Covid rules, and were it not for that error in judgement he could be looking at a chance to establish himself in the first team.
Captain James Tavernier limped off with a knee injury and while his prognosis isn't yet known the defender looked in serious discomfort.
With Patterson unavailable there's no natural right-back in the squad and Steven Gerrard has an issue for the second leg.
Gerrard gamble almost backfires
The Rangers manager made a bold call ahead of kick-off when he left out both Ryan Jack and Ryan Kent.
It appeared Gerrard was looking to match the physicality of Antwerp but removing two of his best players wasn't a roaring success.
Without Jack the midfield lacked legs in the opening stages as the Belgian press threatened to overwhelm them at times.
The absence of Kent had an impact too, with Antwerp's wing-backs confident in pushing up without the threat of his pace in behind.
Rangers settled as the game went on and had more of the play so you couldn't say it was a clanger by Gerrard but with the benefit of hindsight he may have done things differently - especially given Kent's impact when he came on.
