Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Rangers UEFA Cup QF 10/04/08

[DavidMc]

Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Rangers
UEFA Cup Quarter Finals
Thursday 10th April

Jean-Claude Darcheville fired Rangers into the last four of the Uefa Cup to stun Sporting Lisbon.

The Frenchman, who had earlier spurned a great chance, collected Steve Davis' cross to slot the ball past goalkeeper Rui Patricio after 60 minutes.

Liedson struck a post for Lisbon as Vukcevic and Veloso also went close.

But Rangers' defence held firm and Steven Whittaker's solo effort in the 90th minute secured a semi-final clash with Italian outfit Fiorentina.

Rangers made four changes to the side which drew against Dundee United on Sunday.

Christian Dailly moved to centre-half to cover for the suspended David Weir.

Darcheville was used in the lone striker role, and Kirk Broadfoot, Brahim Hemdani and Steven Davis were all restored to the starting line-up.

Sporting were without injured Brazilian centre-half Anderson Polga, with Gladstone replacing him for the Portuguese.

Darcheville spurned a great chance within three minutes when he collected Hemdani's pass, but delayed his shot and his effort was brilliantly blocked by Gladstone.

The Frenchman's movement was causing the home defence problems as Rangers searched for a vital away goal.

Sporting almost made Rangers pay for their profligacy after 18 minutes.

Leandro Romagnoli's free-kick was headed goalwards by Leidson, but the Brazilian's effort came back off the post and bounced to safety.

Rangers appeared content to concede possession to Sporting and throw a blue curtain around McGregor's goal.

Vukcevic and Miguel Veloso went close before the break but Rangers repelled every Sporting foray forward.

Sporting attacked Rangers with greater intensity at the start of the second-half.

Vukcevic's glancing header evaded McGregor's despairing dive but slid wide of the post.

Darcheville, a thorn in Sporting's side throughout the match, gave Rangers the lead with half an hour remaining.

Sporting failed to clear Kirk Broadfoot's long ball and Darcheville headed the ball wide to Davis.


The Northern Irishman's cross was superbly driven home by Darcheville to send the visiting fans wild.

Cousin replaced the tiring Darcheville with 19 minutes remaining, as Sporting's attacks became increasingly desperate.

Joao Moutinho stung McGregor's palms with a fierce shot from the edge box as the home fans urged an equaliser.

Cousin could have doubled Rangers lead late-on, before Whittaker danced through the Sporting defence to score a superb individual goal and cap a memorable night in Lisbon.



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Sporting: Rui Patricio, Abel, Gladstone, Tonel, Grimi, Joao Moutinho, Veloso, Romagnoli, Izmailov, Liedson, Vukcevic. Subs: Tiago, Adrien Silva, Ronny, Djalo, Farnerud, Tiui, Bruno Pereirinha.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Dailly, Papac, Hemdani, Davis, Ferguson, Thomson, McCulloch, Darcheville. Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Novo, Burke, Whittaker, Cousin, Naismith.

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)

[LAF]

What a result mate, eh?!

Shame Baz and Thomson are out against Fiorentina though.

[DavidMc]

What a result. I admit, we rode our luck, but we did it.

[DavidMc]

Im gutteg about Fergie and Thomson tbh. But I hope with the first game at Ibrox, we can do it. Push Dailly into midfield. With his experience we should be ok.

[DavidMc]

Darcheville proved his worth again tonight. This is a great result.

[LAF]

tbh I think you'll need a 1-0 win at Ibrox, Fiorentina are pretty formidable at home (aslong as you don't concede an away goal though).

This is turning into some season.

The camera's showed your bench a couple of times tonight and all the players were having a laugh with each other, a massive difference from the sour faced Le Guen affair.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Congratulations to Rangers, I just watched highlights of the match, your team spirit was awesome and great defensive display throughout the match. Sporting were unlucky, but when you can't score you lose. Rangers were ruthless in front of goal.

@ David, we may have a Rangers vs Bayern final after all

[DavidMc]

Originally Posted by LAF

a massive difference from the sour faced Le Guen affair.

Its just the same as the 9-in-a-row era. Everyone plays for each other. I think McCoist has a lot do do with it aswell.

All the players seem happy. It makes a massive difference if your happy going to work and I think the Rangers players are.