A double from Alfredo Morelos sandwiched a cool penalty from James Tavernier after the Colombian was upended in the box, and earned a rousing comeback for the Light Blues.
It was a fitting scoreline on a night of high drama at Ibrox as Steven Gerrard’s men earned the right to sit top of the group after two rounds of fixtures.
When you think about the great names of European football of the past, both Rangers and Rapid Vienna would undoubtedly feature, and in the build-up to kick-off, this felt like a truly special occasion.
The colourful 1300 visiting fans in the corner arrived early and set about making one hell of a racket, but that was nothing compared to the din the home fans made upon their arrival.
The two sides had met previously, with Gers triumphing 1-0 at Ibrox and 2-0 in Vienna back in the 1964/65 European Cup. Infamously, Jim Baxter broke his leg in the away leg, thus depriving Scot Symon’s men of his services for remainder of the tournament. Indeed, without his talent, they were knocked-out of the competition at the quarter-final stage by Inter Milan 3-2 on aggregate.
The class of 2018, managed by Steven Gerrard, boasted two changes from the side which suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Livingston on Sunday.
Out went Borna Barisic and Kyle Lafferty, with their places taken by Jon Flanagan and Ryan Kent as Gerrard reverted to his more familiar 4-3-3 formation.
As the teams emerged from the Ibrox tunnel, the players were met by a stunning sea of flags in the Broomloan Front while the Europa League anthem was close to being drowned out by the incredible atmosphere being generated by the home fans.
The opening period was certainly lively, with Rapid forcing two corners in succession almost straight from kick-off before at the other end, a Tavernier free-kick delivery just evaded Joe Worrall and Connor Goldson at the back post.
The first real chance of the game came in the 21st minute, with that falling for the visitors. From the left, Veton Berisha crossed a lovely ball into the middle for Andrija Pavlovic, with his header falling wide of Allan McGregor’s left-hand post.
Six minutes later, Morelos threw himself at a Kent cross, but could only collide with defender Mateo Barac, forcing him to have to be replaced by Christopher Dibon.
Five minutes before half-time, Morelos managed to get something on a Tavernier free-kick from wide at the back post, but under severe pressure, it was an easy save for Richard Strebinger in goal for Rapid.
While the game was being played at a terrific pace in the first half, chances for both sides really were at a premium. But with three minutes to go before the break, Rapid took the lead. Andrei Ivan looked more-than a hint offside as he broke down the right wing for the visitors before he cut the ball back for Pavlovic before he laid it on to Veton Berisha to ram the ball home beyond a raging McGregor who was booked for his protests.
Sensationally, however, Rangers drew level within a minute of the restart. Ryan Kent led the attack through the middle before spraying the ball right for Tavernier. The full-back then scampered clear of his marker and cut a lethal ball across goal for Alfredo Morelos to tap home to reignite Ibrox.
The second half began with Gerrard’s men on the front-foot, and terrific skill from Kent took him into the box from a central area, albeit he was forced wide and could only get his shot away straight at Strebinger.
The pressure was really starting to build from the home side, and from another Tavernier cross, Ovie Ejaria’s header brought out a stunning save from Strebinger, who got his left glove high to the postage stamp of the goal to turn the ball away.
Strebinger then had to make another save, this time from Morelos on the spin after Ejaria deflected another Tavernier cross into his path.
Then, with seven minutes left, Rangers were awarded a penalty kick. Kent played the ball through for Morelos who was taken out by Mario Sonnleitner, with referee Ruddy Buquet pointing immediately to the spot.
Up stepped captain Tavernier to take, and he found the top corner, sending Strebinger the wrong way in the process to create the most indescribable noise inside Ibrox.
It set up a nervy finish for the home supporters, with four minutes of added time indicated only adding to the anxiety in the stadium.
The visitors threatened from a corner as they looked to pile pressure on McGregor’s goal, but that opened the door for a briliant Rangers counter attack.
Daniel Candeias battled brilliantly for the ball on the half way line and when it bounced clear of the sole Rapid defender he neatly back heeled it in to the path of the on rushing Morelos.
The Colombian striker kept his cool as he burst clear of the backline and slotted the ball neatly inside the post to wrap up victory deep in to injury time.
RANGERS: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Worrall, Flanagan; Arfield, Coulibaly, Ejaria; Candeias, Kent (Halliday, 90), Morelos.
SUBS: Foderingham, Katic, Barisic, Grezda, Middleton, Lafferty.
SK RAPID WIEN: Strebinger, Muldur, Barac (Dibon, 33) Sonnleitner, Schwab, Berisha (Bolingoli, 72), Murg, Potzmann, Pavlovic, Ljubicic, Ivan (Alar, 58)
SUBS: Knoflach, Martic, Auer, Knasmullner, .
REFEREE: Ruddy Buquet (FRA)
ATTENDANCE: 47, 534.