It was a tough second day for the young Gers as they lost their final two remaining group matches, but Saturday’s performances ensured they qualified for the semi-finals on goal difference.
In the last four, they met Rapid Vienna with the eventual winners of the competition taking the tie 4-0.
Into the third-placed play-off the Gers faced home side Stuttgart, who ran out 3-0 winners, with Rangers finishing in fourth place.
Rangers 1-2 Porto
The first game of the morning saw Rangers take on Porto in Group two.
Porto opened the scoring just over a minute into the match before the Gers got a goal back through Ben Williamson as he skipped past to players to fire low into the back of the net.
With 2 minutes remaining in the first-half, Porto took the lead again. Rangers fought to get back into the game in the second-half but couldn’t get that vital goal as Porto took all three points.
Rangers 0-1 Stuttgart
Into the final group game, it was in Rangers’ hands to qualify for the semi-finals, as they were level on points with Porto before this match.
Rangers had a chance early on but Cole McKinnon’s effort was over the bar, before Stuttgart got ahead with three minutes on the clock.
Graeme Murty’s side were almost level as Kyle McClelland struck a powerful effort from distance but it was stopped by the goalkeeper.
Despite the defeat, it was enough to see the Light Blues through to the semi-finals on goal difference.
Rangers 0-4 Rapid Vienna
It was a rematch of game one for the Gers as they again faced Rapid Vienna in the competition.
The Austrian’s ran out 3-0 winners in the first game of the tournament, with the eventual winners of the Cup making a strong start in the last four match as they were ahead after just 30 seconds.
They doubled their lead just two minutes into the first-half as they piled on the pressure. Rangers almost had one back as captain Daniel Finlayson’s shot was blocked by the keeper but shortly after Rapid added their third before rounding off the scoring with a fourth in the final seconds of the game.
Rangers 0-3 Stuttgart The result semi-final result meant the Gers went into a play-off against Stuttgart for third place.
It was the second game of the day between the sides. Stuttgart got off to a good start getting an early goal as they managed to bundle the ball into the net inside the first minute.There was a second for the Germans four minutes into the game.
Ross McCausland saw a shot blocked by the Stuttgart keeper before they managed to add their third goal before the break.