UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND/FBK Kaunas 2 Rangers 1 Kaunas win 2-1 on agg: THE RAMIFICATIONS of this result mean it was not simply a bad night in the Baltics for Walter Smith and Rangers. As Linas Pilibaitis rose to head home a winning goal for FBK Kaunas three minutes from time Smith may as well have watched the financial gap between his club and Celtic extend right in front of his eyes.
Kevin Thomson and Nerijus Radzius had traded first-half goals but, with Rangers edging towards an away-goals victory, Pilibaitis met Rafael Ledesma's corner. For Kaunas, a first tie in the Champions League third qualifying round awaits. Rangers are out of Europe altogether and can only watch as Celtic contemplate the riches of another Champions League campaign.
Monsoon conditions greeted Smith and his players at what must be one of European football's more decrepit venues. It was a far cry from Manchester in May, where their last European campaign ended with the Uefa Cup final. Basketball is the dominant sport in Lithuania, as the sparsely-populated breeze blocks that masqueraded as stands highlighted.
Kenny Miller has arrived at Ibrox in the meantime, to the consternation of a vocal section of the Rangers' support, but the striker should have fired himself towards redemption within 15 minutes here. Miller, who missed a similarly gilt-edged chance in the first leg a week ago, shot wide when sent clean through on goal by a speculative Christian Dailly pass.
In a brisk start, Miller had another attempt smartly saved by Marian Kello, before Kevin Thomson emphasised the visitors' early dominance. The midfielder, on a rare foray beyond his strikers, collected Nacho Novo's pass and slid the opening goal through Kello's legs.
Kaunas offered little in reply before Nerijus Radzius rifled home a spectacular equaliser shortly before the interval. The full-back's 35-yard free-kick left Allan McGregor helpless.
Rangers, comfortable in possession earlier in the evening, now looked nervous. The Rangers substitute Andrius Velicka, whose career started at Kaunas, should have sealed his new team's progress but shot wildly over following fine build-up work from Sasa Papac. Kaunas capitalised in the most damaging manner possible through Pilibaitis.
FBK KAUNAS: Kello, Radzius, Mendy, Luksa (Mamic 77), Baguzis (Grigalevicius 67), Mrowiec, Pilibaitis, Manchkhava, Zelmikas, Ledesma (Zubavicius 89), Cinikas. Subs Not Used: Dreer, Kunevicius, Rimkevicius, Miklinevicius. Booked: Mendy, Zelmikas. Goals: Radzius 43, Pilibaitis 87.
RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Novo (Boyd 88), McCulloch, Dailly, Thomson, Adam (Velicka 66), Miller (Lafferty 89). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Darcheville, Webster, Hemdani. Booked: McCulloch, Thomson. Goals: Thomson 33.
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden).
