Rangers ... the most memorable matches (15-11)

15

Game: Rangers v Torino.

Date: Wednesday, March 22, 1972.

Competition: European Cup-Winners' Cup.

Venue: Ibrox.

Attendance: 65,000.

Result: Rangers 1 Torino 0.

AN away goal from Willie Johnston in the first leg of this European Cup-Winners' Cup quarter-final in Turin gave Rangers a great chance of progressing to the last four.

And Willie Waddell's charges made sure of their place in the semi-final with this accomplished performance against their Italian rivals in front of 65,000 of their fans at a packed Ibrox.

A goal from Alex MacDonald just after half-time gave them a 1-0 win on the night and a 2-1 aggregate triumph and booked a showdown with German giants Bayern Munich.

14

Game: Rangers v Celtic.

Date: Sunday, March 25, 1984.

Competition: League Cup final.

Venue: Hampden.

Attendance: 66,369.

Result: Rangers 3 Celtic 2.

ALLY McCOIST enjoyed many special moments in a Rangers career that saw him become the record goalscorer in the history of the Ibrox club.

But the hat-trick "Super Ally" netted in the League Cup final triumph over Old Firm rivals Celtic in 1984 was perhaps the current manager's finest hour.

He looked to have secured victory for the Gers with goals on either side of half-time. But the Hoops battled back and levelled with a strike from Brian McClair and a late penalty from Mark Reid.

McCoist was always a player who produced the goods on the big occasion when it mattered most.

In extra time he slotted home the rebound from a penalty after Pat Bonner had blocked his initial effort to clinch it.

13

Game: Marseille v Rangers.

Date: Wednesday, April 7, 1993.

Competition: Champions League.

Venue: Stade Veledrome.

Attendance: 46,000.

Result: Marseille 1 Rangers 1.

RANGERS qualified to play in the group stages of the first-ever Champions League in the 1992/93 season.

This match was one of the highlights. Ian Durrant's celebration after scoring to cancel out Franck Sauzee's opener in the second half will live long in the memory of every Light Blues fan.

The draw in France meant that Rangers went through their European campaign undefeated. Marseille progressed to the final after topping one of the two four-team groups by a single point.

They would beat AC Milan in the final thanks to a goal from centre-half Basile Boli before half-time. But their win was tarnished when allegations of match-fixing emerged after the final.

They were stripped of their domestic title, but not the Champions League.

12

Game: Rangers v Inter Milan.

Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2005.

Competition: Champions League.

Venue: Ibrox.

Attendance: 49,170.

Result: Rangers 1 Inter Milan 1.

RANGERS became the first Scottish club to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League when they came from behind to earn a draw with Italian giants Inter Milan.

Adriano put the visitors in front when he headed home from five yards out on the half-hour mark. The Scottish champions' hopes of making it out of the group stages did not look encouraging at that stage.

But the Gers had equalised before half-time. Thomas Buffel sent Peter Lovenkrands clear through on goal and he slotted past Francisco Toldo to raise the roof inside the packed stadium.

The Light Blues held on until the final whistle to book a last 16 spot against Villarreal. They would draw 2-2 with the Spanish club and went out on away goals.

11

Game: Rangers v Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Date: Wednesday, November 30, 1960.

Competition: European Cup-Winners' Cup.

Venue: Ibrox.

Attendance: 38,174.

Result: Rangers 8 Borussia Moenchengladbach 0.

BEATING their German opponents 3-0 away in the first leg of what was effectively the European Cup-Winners' Cup quarter-final was an impressive achievement.

But that performance was eclipsed in the home tie when Scot Symon's side romped to what was, at that time, a record victory in European competition.

'Slim' Jim Baxter got the rout underway in the second minute.

He was joined on the scoresheet by Harold Davis, Jimmy Miller, who netted a double, and Ralph Brand, who bagged a hat-trick.

Their bewildered opponents also scored an own goal.

Such was his side's total dominance - and the home team dismantled their rivals by playing a mesmerising passing game - George Niven in the Rangers goal did not even have a save to make in a match which was played out in torrential rain.

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