A double from Jenny Danielsson and a goal from Brogan Hay helped Gers to the win in their first ever European test in Katerini in Greece.
It was a hard-fought victory for Malky Thomson’s side, who now look ahead to Sunday afternoon’s final against tournament hosts PAOK in a bit for a place in Round 2.
Thomson named three changes from Sunday’s Scottish Women’s Premier League victory over Aberdeen as Tessel Middag, Sam Kerr and Dina Orschmann came into the starting line-up with Kirsty Maclean, Brogan Hay and Lizzie Arnot on the bench.
Rangers lined-up with Victoria Esson in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Hannah Davison, Kathryn Hill and Rachel McLauchlan.
Chelsea Cornet, Tessel Middag and Sam Kerr were in midfield with Jenny Danielsson and Dina Orschmann supporting striker Kayla McCoy.
It was a fast-paced start to the match as both sides looked to settle into the game in Katerini. The Hungarians had an early corner which was swung into the box but it was cleared by Malky Thomson’s side.
Rangers had a chance of their own from a set-piece shortly after as Dina Orschmann’s cross met the head of Kathryn Hill but the header was just wide of the goalkeepers’ right hand post.
With 13 minutes on the clock, Rangers were awarded a penalty. Kayla McCoy picked up the ball inside the box and showed her strength as she tried to turn to get a shot away at goal but was taken down by Eszter Csigi.
Referee Jurgita Mačikunytė pointed to the spot and booked the Ferencvaros defender for the foul. With regular penalty taker Lizzie Arnot on the bench, Jenny Danielsson stepped up to the spot and the experienced international sent the keeper the wrong way with a composed finish.
Tessel Middag had a curling left-footed shot saved by the keeper as Rangers took confidence from taking the lead, before a good break from Gers saw Kayla McCoy race towards the byline before cutting the ball back to Sam Kerr but her shot was held by Biro.
It was a good spell for Rangers as they looked for a second goal, Dina Orschmann fired the ball across the face of goal but a Ferencvaros defender managed to get a touch to knock it out of the reach of the striker and out for a corner.
Ferencvaros had a good chance before the break as the ball broke for Viktoria Szabo but her shot was high over the bar and Rangers went in at the break with a 1-0 lead.
It was a fantastic start to the second-half for the Light Blues as they doubled their advantage just two minutes after the interval.
Sam Kerr slid the ball through to Jenny Danielsson in the box and it was a fantastic finish from the summer signing. She turned well inside the box before taking a touch around a defender to create space and drill a low effort into the back of the net.
Ferencvaros were looking for a goal back in this game and came close as a cross from Pusztai met their player/coach Vago in the box but her powerful effort drifted just wide of the post, before Fishley fired just over.
Rangers meanwhile, were continuing to look threatening in this game and Dina Orschmann almost added a third with a superb strike which bounced back off the crossbar.
With 25 minutes remaining, Malky Thomson made his first change of the evening as Lizzie Arnot came on to replace Orschmann.
Gers were then forced into another change as captain Kathryn Hill had to come off injured. While Rangers were down to 10 players, Ferencvaros managed to get a goal back in this semi-final tie.
Half-time substitute Shameeka Fishley latched onto a ball forward to drive into the box and finish low beyond Victoria Esson.
Rangers had a fantastic opportunity to get a third goal late in the match as Kirsty Howat raced through on goal but the keeper managed to do enough to block the striker’s shot.
With two minutes of the game remaining, Gers sealed their place in the final of the mini-tournament. It was Howat again who was through on goal, with her shot saved by Biro, Brogan Hay was alert to pick up the rebound and made no mistake in restoring a two-goal advantage for Rangers.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s final against PAOK.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Davison, Hill (Maclean 68), McLauchlan, Middag, Cornet, Kerr, Danielsson (Hay, 77), Orschmann (Arnot, 65), McCoy (Howat, 77).
Subs not used: Fife, Martinez, Cavanagh, McLeary, Watson, Austin, Gray, Inman.
Ferencvaros: Biro, Barker, Papp, Csigi, Nemeth, Csanyi, Fenyvesi, Pusztai (Czeller, 65), Bradic (Fishley, 46), Vago, V. Szabo.
Subs not used: Ascher, Barti, Demeter, Muckova, Ott, Zlidnis, Nagy
Referee Jurgita Mačikunytė
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