Ally McCoist’s men had it all to do following last week’s first leg at Ibrox in which Daniel Larsson scored the only goal of the game for the Swedes.
This time around it was Jiloan Hamad that scored the decisive goal with nine minutes remaining, taking the scoreline to 2-1 on aggregate, after Nikica Jelavic had broken the deadlock in the first half.
This, however, does not tell the full story of what was a dramatic match that saw three players sent off, including Steven Whittaker on 16 minutes and Madjid Bougherra on 66.
With no Bears in the ground and down to nine men it proved too much for the SPL Champions who will now parachute in to the Europa League with the draw being held in Switzerland on Friday.
The Malmo fans were clearly up for it tonight and at Russian ref Vladislav Bezborodov’s first whistle they created a deafening wall of noise in support of their team.
Rangers, however, started the game well and on four minutes a foul on Steven Naismith on the right flank allowed Lee Wallace to test keeper Dusan Melicharek who palmed the ball out for a corner at his back post.
Juan Manuel Ortiz then fed a clever pass through to Jelavic but the 6′ 5″ Czech darted off his line to deny the Croatian.
Just as McCoist had requested in his pre-match press conference his side were pressing high up the pitch and on nine minutes the keeper was called in to action again, getting his hand to a powerful Jelavic header from a Davis corner.
At the other end Allan McGregor had to be sharp to tip a swerving free-kick from Wilton Figueiredo over his cross bar.
It was the first time the Gers no 1 had been called in to action but on 17 minutes this already fiery clash re-ignited with the dismissal of Whittaker for what can only be described as a moment of madness.
Bougherra and Larsson competed for the ball on the edge of the Gers 18 yard box and after a foul had been awarded the green-booted Jimmy Durmaz caught Whittaker with a late challenge and the full back lashed out by throwing the ball at the player’s head.
A bit of handbags followed before the official pulled a red card from his top pocket and sent the full back for an early bath.
With Gers now down to ten-men this was starting to look like mission impossible but as so often happens the visitors found an extra gear and took the lead just six minutes later thanks to a brilliant Jelavic volley.
The Croatian peeled away from his marker in the box and when Edu delivered a teasing cross he calmly placed the ball across Melicharek in to the net.
An eerie silence followed but on the half hour mark Malmo’s vociferous fans were back out of their seats again.
A slack pass from Edu, who was now playing at right back in Whittaker’s absence, allowed Durmaz to jink his way in to the box but his cross to Larsson was stopped by McGregor before Papac booted clear.
It was end-to end stuff now and after this scare Rangers produced an excellent counter attack with Ortiz finding Jelavic who played in Naismith but, having produced a lung bursting run, he couldn’t find the power or direction on his shot.
A booking to Edu for a foul on Durmaz meant the American was now walking a tightrope but before the break Malmo should also have been a man down.
Lee McCulloch produced a late tackle on Durmaz on the halfway line and the Swede reacted by kicking out at the Scotland midfielder, leaving him in pain on the turf.
Unbelievably, Durmaz hobbled off the pitch and McCulloch was booked before Norling, who played a blinder by pretending he was going to substitute Durmaz, put the player back on once the game resumed.
McCoist was raging on the touchline and at the half time whistle the Rangers players, and Jelavic in particular, made a beeline for the ref to voice their frustration.
With the game level the second 45 minutes was always going to be a nailbiter but Rangers again started positively as they went in search of a second strike.
The opening exchanges were nervy and with the 60 minute mark approaching neither keeper had had a save to make following the break.
But with an extra-man advantage Malmo were starting to edge ahead in terms of possession and on 66 minutes Rangers were reduced to nine.
Bougherra flew in to a challenge with his arm raised and he caught substitute Dardan Rexhepi with his elbow, leaving the player in a bad way.
Once again the ref went for red as opposed to yellow and Rangers were now in need of a miracle.
They got a break on 72 minutes when Ricardinho also saw red for a second bookable offence and just second later they should have doubled their advantage.
Davis, who was different class on the night, found Naismith on the edge of the box and his deft touch put Jelavic clear but with just the keeper to beat he sclaffed his shot wide.
This was to prove so costly as Malmo pushed on and found the net themselves on 81 minutes when Jiloan Hamad found space 20 yards from goal and he unleashed a powerful drive in to the postage stamp corner of McGregor’s net.
With full time approaching Rangers three everything forward and in injury time Naismith came so close to grabbing a glory goal but his volley from 15 yards flew over the bar and Malmo were left to celebrate a famous aggregate win.