RANGERS have progressed to the last 16 stage of the UEFA Cup tonight with a gritty and passionate 4-0 win – 5-2 on aggregate – over Hapoel Tel-Aviv at Ibrox.
In what was a remarkable tie, Allan McGregor was given a red card after Rangers had scored their third on 73 minutes for apparently lashing out at Hapoel sub Luciano De Bruno and this paved the way for Stefan Klos to make a stunning return between the posts,
Prior to kick-off manager Walter Smith was clearly looking to exploit Tel-Aviv in the wide areas and use skipper Barry Ferguson as a supporting midfielder and his plan worked perfectly,
Chris Burke and Nacho Novo were given the task of getting at the Israelis down the flanks while Fergie was detailed to support Kris Boyd in attack – as he did in the first half at Kilmarnock 11 days ago.
The other big news was that Kevin Thomson was in the side to make his European and Ibrox debut for Rangers.
The former Hibs captain has been given a holding midfield role beside Gavin Rae and both were magnificent on the night.
The Rangers fans gave their team a terrific welcome to the field with a flag display that put a shiver down the spine.
The players responded and Hapoel defender Ram Doani was booked after only three minutes when Burke had cut inside and beaten three men.
Only 60 seconds later and Hutton stooped to loop the ball off the bar from the flame-haired winger’s dangerous near-post corner.
It was a positive start from the home team and Nacho Novo, who started on the right wing, had a cross come shot which narrowly caught Israeli keeper Shavit Elimelech out at his back post.
Rangers continued to dominate possession and Ferguson was unlucky with a left-foot shot which went wide of the target on 18 minutes.
It seemed inevitable that the pressure on the visiting goal would take its toll and the Gers got the opening they were craving four minutes later.
Thomson and Burke combined to find Novo on the right and the Spanaird’s delightful cut-back was launched into the roof of the net by Ferguson who went on to celebrate with the fans in the Copland Road Stand.
There is no doubt that the Light Blues deserved their important lead at this stage but, like the first-leg, they sat back after scoring and it almost proved costly when the dangerous Toema, who scored that wonder free-kick in Tel-Aviv, smashed a low cross which was narrowly missed by striker Elyaniv Barda.
Barukh Dego, who scored his side’s second in the Bloomfield Stadium, then tried his luck with a curling right-foot shot from 20 yards which went safely into the arms of Allan McGregor.
Rangers, however, looked to be in determined mood, and the prolific Boyd doubled his side’s advantage on the night.
Hapoel’s experienced central midfielder Josef Abukasis looked for a perfect pass midway in his own half but instead hit Boyd.
The ball broke kindly for the striker, and despite protests from the visiting team that he had used his hand to stop it, he showed typical composure to drill a left foot shot beyond the keeper.
Rangers were in total control at this stage and Rae almost notched a third with an incredible 20-yard left-foot volley direct from a Burke corner four minutes prior to the interval.
Smith’s players were given a great applause for their first-half display as the referee blew for the interval and the only surprise was that it was not more.
The home side started the second period in a similar manner to the way they finished the first but Hapoel, only needing a goal to level proceedings on aggregate, showed that they were still a threat on 48 minutes when they awarded a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box.
Toema’s effort hit the wall but when it was played back into the danger area substitute De Bruno should have scored from close range.
Ferguson, however, was to drag his side back into the game and the skipper was again inspirational.
At the hour mark Rangers were looking the stronger team and Burke, who was superb, almost got his side’s third when he cut inside and fired a terrific near post shot from 25-yards which was tipped over the bar by the Hapoel keeper.
On 63 minutes the crowd almost took the roof of Ibrox Stadium when Walter Smith made his first change of the day by replacing Boyd with Dado Prso.
Boydy put in a great shift as the lone striker but Dado was clearly put on to hold the ball up as Rangers tried to preserve their advantage.
As expected, with a place in the last 16 dangling like a carrot in front of them, the atmosphere around the ground started to get a bit tense with 15 minutes remaining.
Any fears, however, were quickly erased when Ferguson scored a third for his side on 72 minutes.
Prso picked the ball up on the right and squared it to Barry who banged the ball in from 5 yards.
What followed in the aftermath was nothing short of remarkable with McGregor being sent off for a clash inside his own half with De Bruno as the rest of his teammates celebrated.
There was then the unexpected sight of Klos replacing the Scot and Novo having to be taken off as a result.
If anything this added even more spice to an already heated encounter and both sets of coaches had to be seperated in the technical areas as the game restarted.
Rangers continued to attack with purpose up and substitute Charlie Adam, who had replaced Burke on 90 minutes, fired home his side’s fourth with the last kick of the ball.
Overall, it was a great night for the Gers management, players and fans and a place in the last 16 was certainly deserved.
Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson