Uefa Cup Group Phase/Livorno 2 Rangers 3: Rangers enjoyed a memorable night in Tuscany after an impressive win over Livorno in the Group A opener.
The Scots produced a classy display with three goals in the opening half to earn the club's first-ever triumph on Italian soil.
Charlie Adam opened the scoring in the 26th minute, a low left-foot shot from 30 yards giving Rangers the breakthrough they had been threatening.
Three minutes later, the Scottish side doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after Samuel Kuffour brought down Buffel in the penalty area - Kris Boyd calmly converting.
Livorno pulled a goal back with a penalty of their own after referee Julian Rodriguez Santiago ruled that Julien Rodriguez had tugged the shirt of Luca Vigiani.
Lionel Letizi guessed the direction of Cristiano Lucarelli's effort by diving to his right - but the ball was well struck and hit the back of the net.
But 10 minutes before half-time, Nacho Novo restored Rangers' two-goal lead with a beautiful right-footed shot.Amelia scrambled to his left but the ball bounced past him.
With a minute remaining, former Everton striker Ibrahima Bakayoko saw a shot saved by Letizi - but only as far as Lucarelli, who netted to give Livorno a lifeline
LIVORNO: Amelia, Galante, Vidigal, Vigiani (Bakayoko 78),Kuffour, Rezaei (Morrone 57), Pasquale, Passoni, Cesar Prates (Balleri 46), Danilevicius, Lucarelli. Subs Not Used: Manitta, Filippini, Pfertzel, Grandoni. Booked: Vidigal, Kuffour. Goals: Lucarelli 34 pen, 90.
RANGERS: Letizi, Buffel (Rae 89), Ferguson, Hemdani, Novo (Prso 87), Kris Boyd (Sebo 82), Svensson, Hutton, Adam,Smith, Rodriguez. Subs Not Used: McGregor, Ponroy, Stanger, N'Diaye. Booked: Ferguson, Hutton. Goals: Adam 27, Kris Boyd 30 pen, Novo 35.
Referee: JR Santiago (Spn)
