It was a game of few chances with the visitors at
times having the bulk of possession and territorial
advantage - but the Light Blue defence, as so often
this season, held firm with David Weir and Carlos
Cuellar outstanding in the centre of the back line as
they denied the Italians probing attacks.
Rangers will now travel to Florence next week with
every hope and belief that they can reach their fourth
European final - having already scored nine goals on
the road this season they will travel with every
confidence.
Manager Walter Smith made five changes from Hampden
with Kris Broadfoot, David Weir, Sasa Papac, Steve
Davis and Jean-Claude Darcheville replacing Steven
Smith, Chris Burke, Kevin Thomson, Steven Naismith and
Daniel Cousin.
There was a healthy contingent of travelling fans from
Tuscany - perhaps 3,000 strong.
Both sides made a cautious start, sizing each other up
- indeed it was 24 minutes before the first shot on
target - Martin Jorgensen's 25-yard left-foot drive
being held by Neil Alexander.
Ten minutes later Zdravko Kuzmanovic's drive from all
of 35 yards skipped inches wide, then in the next
attack Mario Santana was clean through on goal only to
be blocked by Alexander.
The seven surviving members of the Rangers team that
had played against Fiorentina in the inaugural
European Cup Winners Cup Final 47 years ago were
introduced to the capacity crowd at the interval.
A goalless first-half had produced few positives from
a Rangers standpoint apart from the blank scoreline,
and Walter Smith decided to freshen things up in 58
minutes when he made a double substitution with Thomas
Buffel and Daniel Cousin replacing Nacho Novo and
Jean-Claude Darcheville.
Greek Referee Kyros Vassaras had previously taken
charge of Rangers' Champions League fixture against
Inter Milan at the San Siro in September 2005 -
tonight he was whistle-happy, blowing for every
infringement, both real and imagined.
The Florentines retained the bulk of possession
although seldom seriously threatening the home goal -
Adrian Mutu, so quiet throughout, did test Alexander
with a thirty-yard free-kick that the goalkeeper held.
As the game neared its' climax Rangers began to
threaten - Cuellar's 78th minute cross being headed
wide of goal by Cousin, but time ran out on a
breakthrough and the night ended goalless.
At the final whistle applause rang round the ground in
appreciation of the commitment and hard work from a
Rangers team who had matched technically superior
opponents - a stark contrast from the last home UEFA
Cup tie with Sporting Lisbon at Ibrox when a goalless
draw produced a cacophony of boos.
Afterwards Walter Smith reflected;
"It was a tight game with few clear opportunities for
either side. We face the same situation we've faced
before. We worked extremely hard. We can take
confidence from having scored away from home in Europe
this saeson - we hope to do as well again."
Goalless home draws against both Panathinaikos and
Sporting Lisbon in earlier rounds did not prevent a
Light Blue triumph on foreign fields - one must hope
that Florence will see a similar result to propel
Rangers into their first European final in 36 years.
In the other semi-final, Bayern Munich were held at
home 1-1 by Zenit St. Petersburg, meaning that a
Manchester reunion with Dick Advocaat remains a very
live possibility. A European final against a Russian
side - remind you of anytime?
RANGERS Alexander; Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac;
Novo, Davis, Hemdani, Dailly, Whittaker; Darcheville
UNUSED SUBS Boyd, G. Smith, Buffel, Gow, Webster,
Cousin, Faye
FIORENTINA Frey; Jorgenson, Gamberini, Ujfalusi,
Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana,
Pazzini, Mutu
UNUSED SUBS Osvaldo, Avramov, Froldrup, Painelli,
Potenza, Pasqual, Vieri
REFEREE Kyros Vassaras (Greece)