Rangers rise to the occasion to roar into semi-finals

[uart]

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Rangers-rise-to-the-occasion.3972361.jp

IMPROBABLE as it seems, the phrase Lisbon Lions has been introduced to Ibrox parlance after a stirring performance in the Estadio Jose Alvalade last night. It wasn't the European Cup, nor were they represented by a group of players born within a goal-kick of Glasgow, but it was an achievement for these times and demands applause.

Jean-Claude Darcheville is the toast of Govan after a nerveless finish supplied Rangers with an away goal after 60 minutes. Substitute Steven Whittaker added a superb second goal in injury time and the margin of victory provided an accurate picture of this compelling event on the banks of the Tagus river.

The green-and-white hooped Sporting could not recover from the setback, but had appeared a strangely muted force in any case. This prompted the perhaps predictable chorus of "Are you Celtic in disguise?" from the jubilant away fans, with Rangers through to a first European semi-final since 1972.

The minimal resistance offered by the home side should not take anything away from a performance that was only blighted by the bookings received by skipper Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson. Both players will now miss the first leg of the semi-final on 24 April against Fiorentina, who defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0 last night.

Walter Smith's side are into the last four of the Uefa Cup, something which even the manager cannot quite comprehend. Players such as Kirk Broadfoot and Christian Dailly did him proud last night, and trashed the opinion of those who felt they were not of the required class for Rangers. Smith, too, was provided with succour after the booing heard at Ibrox last week following a goal-less draw in the first leg. Last night the fans stayed long after the final whistle to hail the achievement.

As expected, Smith resisted any urge to mend something that was not broken and maintained faith in a formation headed by a lone striker in the shape of Darcheville. Dailly made his first appearance at centre-half for the side in place of the suspended David Weir, although this news was treated with indifference in the streets of Lisbon.

The locals had not had their imaginations captured by the prospect of watching Rangers, and the plea for home fans to attend did not appear to have roused significant interest. The supporters from Scotland had grouped in more impressive numbers in a stadium where sufferers from vertigo should surely not be encouraged to come.

The steepness of the stands represented the task Rangers faced. Sporting have lost only once at their well-appointed home this season and so the low numbers in attendance might have been attributed to their fans simply not expecting the side to be troubled by the visitors. If this was the belief of those who did take their seats at kick-off time then it was soon shown to be erroneous.

Rangers should have gained a priceless away goal as early as the fourth minute during an opening spell when they brought frustrated whistles from the Portuguese spectators. Darcheville found room in the box and picked up a deflected ball from Brahim Hemdani but his attempt to flick the ball over the goalkeeper was thwarted by Gladstone's block.

Sporting managed to compose themselves as the first-half approached midway stage, and might have gone ahead themselves in the 18th minute. Romagnoli's free-kick from the right was smacked against Allan McGregor's left-hand post by Liedson's header. It might have felt ominous had Rangers not immediately embarked on a sustained spell of pressure as they succeeded in drawing the sting from Sporting. The conditions perhaps helped dampen home hopes as the promised rain grew steadily heavier.

There was certainly little to suggest Rangers did not belong at this stage. Indeed, their doughty qualities are perhaps best show-cased in circumstances where there is little to be gained from an overly adventurous game-plan.

The onus was on Sporting to go forward, something which left them vulnerable to the counter-attack. Paulo Bento's side struggled to even reach the Rangers box. Twice as the first-half drew to an end the home side simply kicked the ball out of play when attempting straightforward passes to the wing.

However, Rangers were shaken from any notion of comfort when Joao Moutinho sent a shot skipping past McGregors' far post. Smith's side again managed an instant response, with only a last-ditch block from Tonel preventing Lee McCulloch's shot asking questions of Patricio.

The impression that this was a match where inhibition rather than inspiration was the key word had been allowed to form through the absence of bookings as much as anything else.

Both sides were avoiding physical contact as well as all-out attack, although Thomson's rash challenge on Miguel Veloso broke the spell. He was booked for his troubles and will miss the first leg of the Fiorentina clash. But the incident seemed to bring a different dynamic to the match, with Sporting's Simon Vukcevic seeing his header speed narrowly past the post.

Broadfoot followed Thomson into the referee's book soon after for dissent, although this detail was a trifling when compared with what occurred on the hour mark. Darcheville played a ball out to Steven Davis on the right and powered on into the box.

His Northern Irish team-mate knew what was required and he returned an immaculate ball into the striker's path. Darcheville showed no signs of having been burdened by his miss early in the match and the Frenchman expertly converted past Rui Patricio from eight yards.

He celebrated in his usual manner in front of the Rangers crowds, who sensed they were witnessing another extraordinary night in the club's European history.

Darcheville himself was able to savour the spectacle from the sidelines after Daniel Cousin replaced him in the 72nd minute.

The striker had scored with one of two chances