Rangers reach Uefa Cup semi-finals with win at Lisbon
Thursday, 10 Apr 2008 22:15
Walter Smith saw his side claim a famous win
Rangers have reached the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup with a superb 2-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon at the Jose Alvalade Stadium this evening.
Frenchman Jean-Claude Darcheville gave Rangers a valuable away goal on the hour mark, which meant the home side had to score twice to progress. But it was the Scottish side who added to their lead through a Steven Whittaker goal to seal the win.
Having failed to score in the home leg at Ibrox last week, with the game ending goalless, Rangers faced a tough battle in Lisbon were Sporting are a formidable team. But a matured display from a relatively young side saw Rangers setup a semi-final clash against Italian side Fiorentina.
Rangers should have taken the lead in the first three minutes as Darcheville found himself with a clear chance to shoot at goal, but he delayed his shot and defender Gladstone got back to scupper his effort on goal.
Sporting were unlucky not to score after 18 minutes when a free-kick from Leandro Romagnoli was headed goalwards by Brazilian forward Leidson, but the ball smashed off the bar.
The home side enjoyed more of the possession but were unable to break down a strong Rangers defence marshalled by the veteran Christian Dailly, who was deputising for the suspended David Weir.
Rangers made Sporting pay for their lack of cutting edge upfront as Darcheville struck after 60 minutes. The striker nodded the ball to Steven Davis who delivered a precise ball into the area which Darcheville drilled home.
Sporting poured forward in numbers looking for a goal which would give them hope, but Rangers hit them on the break and Whittaker went on a solo run in the last minute of the game, and coolly slotted the ball past Rui Patricio to send the travelling Rangers fans into a frenzy.