And they lapped up a very important win, although the party was spoiled a little as Dynamo snatched a last-minute goal to take the shine off Rangers’ night and make the second leg that little bit more difficult than it might have been.
Lorenzo Amoruso got the show on the road, then Michael Ball hit a terrific Euro debut goal from a freekick and star man Ronald de Boer produced a power header to send the Ibrox men into a three-goal lead – just as the men from 1972 had done.
Sadly Rolan Gusev nicked a goal in the final minute, but Rangers should be more than capable of holding their lead in the Russian capital on November 1.
The atmosphere was electric as Rangers took to the field. The supporters knew it was a vital night and the players responded in just the right fashion by securing the early lead Dick Advocaat craved.
Fittingly it was Lorenzo Amoruso, who had an excellent night, who provided it and everyone assumed Rangers would go on to over-power the Russians who, predictably, came to frustrate and smother the Ibrox men and then take their chances on the break.
Disappointingly, the men from Moscow achieved their aim for the rest of the first half by keeping Rangers out despite Advocaat’s men having the bulk of the possession.
Rangers had served notice that they might strike early when the hugely influential Ronald de Boer headed just over the top from Fernando Ricksen’s crosss after great work from Claudio Caniggia.
Amoruso then singed the left post with a low, driven frekick in six minutes and two minutes later he forced the ball over the line following set piece move.
Petr Bystrov fouled Ricksen on the right and Reyna whipped over an excellent deadball which Bert Konterman met with his head but the ball cannoned back off the left post.
Amoruso was onto the loose ball first and drilled a left foot shot which keeper Vasily Khonutovsky got a touch to but could not prevent from squeezing over the line.
There were worrying moments on the bench, however, as Craig Moore injured his neck in the freekick move and for a spell it looked as though his involvement was over.
He recovered to return, but was replaced at half-time by Michael Ball after the medical staff deemed him unfit to continue. The subsitutition, although enforced, was to pay dividends later.
The crowd hoped Rangers would finish the contest early, but although Advocaat’s men had all of the play they found it frustratingly difficult to find a way through the Dynamo defence.
Barry Ferguson tested the keeper in 29 minutes after a neat one-two with de Boer, but it was little more than a test. While super play from Caniggia in 33 minutes set offered a great chance for de Boer but he slipped at the vital moment.
Rangers, technically, moved the ball very well with de Boer showing some lovely touches but there was no end product and that was the source of their frustration.
In fairness to de Boer, his pass to Reyna in 40 minutes deserved a goal. The weight was perfect as he slid the ball into the path of the US captain but Darius Zutautus just did enough to put him off and his shot slid agonisingly wide.
That said, Rangers had a worrying moment in the 17th minute when Amoruso was judged to have fouled giant striker Dmitri Boulykine just outside the box. Petr Bystrov struck an excellent freekick which Stefan Klos brilliantly keopt out diving to his right.
The German keeper made another tremendous save at a crucial stage in the game when he made a superb block on Alexander Tochilin’s drive in 57 minutes after Bert Konterman’s slack header had put Rangers in trouble.
The significance of it was exemplified four minutes later when the Ibrox side snatched the crucial second goal they so desperately wanted to earn more control of the tie.
And it was a sensational first goal for Michael Ball on his European debut which sent the Ibrox crowd into raptures.
Zutautas was booked for his challenge on Flo on the right side of the Dynamo box and Ball purposefully moved forward to survey the situation. After a quick chat with Amoruso, it was decided that he should have a go and that he did.
He smacked a tremendous left foot shot which took a slight deflection off Lithuanian defender Deividas Semberas and flew into the right corner to spark major celebrations among the Light Blue legions.
Advocaat was not content, however, and switched Neil McCann for Flo in 66 minutes to try to stretch the Russians some more and he got his reward as Rangers scored a third goal in 79 minutes.
McCann was heavily involved as his fantastic pace down the left led to Shemberas impeding him to give away a freekick near the touchline, level with the 18-yard box.
Reyna whipped over an excellent freekick and de Boer launched himself to send a terrific header into the right corner. Rangers, it seemed, were heading for the third round.
Indeed, Claudio Caniggia should have put the tie out of sight when he was presented with a terrific opportunity in 83 minutes. Again McCann was influential with a great run and clipped pass for Numan who had made the overlap.
Numan’s low cross was perfect for the on-rushing Argentinian who beat the keeper with a right foot shot but watched his effort fly inches wide.
He should have scored and Rangers were made to pay in the final minute when Moscow Dynamo managed a counter which now makes the second leg on November 1 a lot trickier than it might have been.
The Russians finished the game with great spirit and they got their reward when some sloppy defending allowed dangerman Rolan Gusev the chance to sweep a right foot shot into the net.
It spoiled the night a little, but overall this was an excellent bit of work by Rangers who now must have every chance of progressing in the tournament.
RANGERS (3-4-1-2): Klos; Moore (Ball 45), Konterman, Amoruso; Ricksen, Reyna, Ferguson, Numan; de Boer; Caniggia, Flo (McCann 66). Subs not used – Christiansen, Kanchelskis, Latapy, Ross, Vidmar.
Bookings: Reyna (59)
Moscow Dynamo (4-5-1): Khonutovsky; Semberas, Zharinov, Zutautus, Hornyak; Gusev, Tochilin (Kharlachev 80),Nemov, Grishin (Dyatel 86) Bystrov; Boulykine. Subs not used – Kramarenko, Medvedev, Movikov, Klioev, Cesnauskis.
Bookings: Tochilin (36), Zharinov (42), Zutautus (61)
Ref: Stephane Bre (France)
Att: 45,008.
Man of the match: Ronald de Boer.
Moment of the match: Michael Ball’s stunning Euro debut strike.