A stoppage time penalty from Kevin Muscat earned Rangers a 1-1 friendly draw in Dubai with German Bundesliga strugglers Energie Cottbus.

A goal just before the hour mark from Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf had looked like deciding the encounter.

But the Australian produced an emphatic penalty with virtually the last kick of the game after Michael Mols had been brought down while executing a trademark turn.

On one level, this friendly was a theoretical exercise in how Rangers might fare should they be granted the wish they share with Celtic to be allowed to leave Scotland for a bigger stage.

Cottbus perform in that environment weekly - albeit for the moment as they are currently rock bottom of their league with just two wins all season.

Initially, it was easy to see why as Rangers outplayed the Bundesliga makeweights in the first 45 minutes.

The Germans created little of note until taking the lead and should have gone in at the break at least a goal down.

That goal should have had Maurice Ross' name on it but, after Ronald de Boer had sent him galloping into space in the box with a sublime flick, he showed a defender's touch by firing wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy.

That was by far the best opportunity of the half although new signing Steven Thompson also failed to hit the target after dithering when Fernando Ricksen found him in space in the box.

Barry Ferguson was the game's most creative player and one pass gave Neil McCann an opportunity on the left side of the box but, as he tried to get the ball under control, goalkeeper Andre Lenz came out to get the ball off him at the second attempt.

Ferguson also provided a potentially controversial moment when Moussa Latoundji fell to the turf after the Rangers captain's arm made contact with his face in a midfield tussle.

Latoundji was forced off before the end when a clash with Bob Malcolm saw him needing treatment for an eye injury.

Both sides made a flurry of substitutions after the break.

The changes gave the Germans more balance and, after Ricksen had given away possession near a corner flag, newcomer Marko Topic flicked the ball to Reghecampf in the box.

The midfielder did not make perfect contact with the ball but it still managed to go past interval replacement Allan McGregor and off the inside of his left-hand post.

Topic had earlier been booked for laying a hand on the referee following an unsuccessful penalty appeal and Latoundji was to follow him into the book for felling Claudio Caniggia in full flow.

The clash also marked a first start for Christian Nerlinger and the German almost netted against his fellow countrymen with a fierce drive from a free-kick move which substitute goalkeeper Tomislav Piplica did well to parry.

Mols saw a shot on the turn saved following a knock-on from Muscat and Ricksen was cautioned for a challenge on Zolt Low.

The Germans must have thought victory would be theirs but Rangers were not to be denied and when Mols was felled in mid-turn by yet another substitute - Marcel Rozgonyi - Muscat made no mistake from the spot.

The match was also relevant for trialist duo Jerome Bonnissel, the Bordeaux left-back, and Norway international centre-back Dan Eggen, who is surplus to requirements at Alaves.

Both started and both completed the 90 minutes, with the Frenchman showed a eagerness to be involved down the left flank, pinging in the occasional cross into the box to boot.

Eggen was unflustered throughout and started well, rescuing Ross with a well-timed tackle after Marco Gebhardt had made good ground down the left.

Neither did anything wrong but whether they did enough to warrant more permanent deals only manager Alex McLeish can tell.