Second-half goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Steven Whittaker secured Rangers a 2-0 victory against Sporting Lisbon that sent them into the last four of the UEFA Cup after a spirited defensive performance at the Jose Alvelade Stadium.
Forced to defend for large portions of the match, Rangers managed to keep Sporting at bay for the duration of the first half despite Liedson rattling the woodwork with a header.
A well-taken breakaway goal from Darcheville on the hour mark gave the visitors the away goal they craved, and after holding firm for the remaining thirty minutes substitute Whittaker sealed a 2-0 aggregate victory with a superb solo goal in injury time.
Barry Ferguson picked up a booking late on that will rule him out of the first leg of the semi-final with Fiorentina, but it was the only dark spot on a famous European night for the Ibrox club.
Rangers went into the game without suspended centre-half David Weir but were boosted by the return from illness of Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar.
Darcheville was tasked with leading the line on his own, and he spurned an early chance to score a crucial away goal when his attempted dink over Rui Patricio from 15 yards was superbly blocked by Sporting defender Gladstone.
The visitors were doing a good job of maintaining possession in the game’s early stages, but on 18 minutes they were dealt a shock when Liedson powered a thumping header against the post from Leandro Romagnoli’s right-wing free-kick.
Rangers quickly gathered their composure at the back, but received another warning sign five minutes before half-time when Joao Moutinho flashed a long-range effort inches wide of Allan McGregor’s right-hand post.
Simon Vukevic took aim from a similar position moments later, but his left-footed shot was also fractionally off-target.
Rangers would have been satisfied to reach half-time with the game goalless, but Sporting upped the ante in the second half and after 10 minutes Vukcevic sent a near post header inches wide of the far post from Miguel Veloso’s left-wing free-kick.
Having weathered the home side’s pressure Rangers sensationally took the lead on the hour mark, when Darcheville slotted home Steven Davis’s fine pass from the right after Gladstone had misjudged the bounce of a long ball.
The goal sent the travelling support into raptures and Sporting responded by introducing strikers Yannick Djalo and Rodrigo Tiui from the bench.
Paulo Bento’s men lay siege to the Rangers goal, and after Yannick lifted a shot over the crossbar from 15 yards, defender Tonel glanced a header marginally wide of the far post from another Romagnoli free-kick.
Substitute Daniel Cousin could have extended the visitors’ lead with two minutes remaining when his close-range shot from a tight angle hit the side netting, but Whittaker did manage to cap the result in injury time when he tiptoed through the weary home defence before tucking the ball home.
Walter Smith’s men have now played a staggering 16 games in Europe this season, as they remain in the hunt for four trophies, in what has been the veteran boss’ best continental run since narrowly missing out on the Champions League final back in season 1992/93.
Rangers captain Barry Ferguson was proud of his side’s display away from home. He said :
“I thought tonight we were exceptional, from the front to the back, the team did a great job”
However there was a sting in the tail for the skipper who will miss the first-leg of the semi-final after picking up a booking on Thursday night. Ferguson added :
“I don’t know what I was doing, I was just trying to waste time. But we have a good enough and big enough squad to cope without me and Kevin (Thomson, also now suspended).”
Darcheville said:
“I’m very happy. Tonight I think the qualification for the team is more important.
“The fans were very good, and you can see now they are bouncing!”
