UEFA CUP/Rangers 0 Sporting Lisbon 0:RANGERS HAVE made such a habit of returning unlikely results from away matches in this season's Uefa Cup it would be foolish to regard them as all but eliminated. But Walter Smith's men will need one of their more memorable showings in the Estadio Jose Alvalade next week after Sporting Lisbon, not previously known for their stubbornness in defence, snuffed out every threat.
What will perplex Smith as he evaluates the match is that the Portuguese did so at times with consummate ease and, in fact, finished on top. To add to Rangers' woes, the influential David Weir will miss the return leg of this quarter-final after a late booking, which triggers a suspension.
Last night Sporting took control from the start, despite the physical limitations of their star striker Liedson. The Brazilian was trampled on by David Weir within three minutes, an incident that typified Rangers' approach, but the clever promptings of Liedson's team-mates ensured their hosts were quickly pushed on to the back foot. Barry Ferguson soon illustrated his team's frustrations and the captain was booked for a late lunge on his impressive counterpart, Joao Moutinho.
It took Rangers 18 minutes before they came even close to troubling the young Rui Patricio in the Sporting goal, but when the chance arose, they should have done better. Jean-Claude Darcheville sprinted clear but found himself desperately lacking in support when looking to cut the ball back.
His burst proved the catalyst for Rangers' most coherent spell of an ill-tempered opening half, Patricio appearing vulnerable whenever threatened by aerial attack. The previously anonymous Lee McCulloch came within an unconvincing save of breaking the deadlock, Patricio clawing away a 25-yard effort two minutes before the interval.
Davis angled a shot wide of the upright seven minutes after the restart, but Sporting seemed increasingly content to maintain parity, although such tactics are alien to a team who have scored in each of their European matches away from home this season.
But when the Portuguese roused themselves their full-back, Leandro Grimi, came within inches of stealing the lead.
Rangers, whose defence has been the key to success this season, looked decidedly ragged on the rare occasions Sporting attacked with purpose.
Smith introduced Nacho Novo in attempt to inject potency, but the move was in vain. Indeed Sporting's Simon Vukcevic and Liedson wasted the best opportunities of the closing minutes as desperation spread through Rangers' ranks.
RANGERS:McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Hemdani,Thomson, Davis, Ferguson, McCulloch, Darcheville (Novo 72). Subs not used: Alexander, Boyd, Burke, Whittaker, Dailly, Naismith. Booked: Ferguson, Weir.
SPORTING:Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Anderson Polga, Grimi, Joao Moutinho, Veloso, Izmailov (Bruno Pereirinha 70), Romagnoli, Liedson, Vukcevic (Djalo 75). Subs not used: Tiago, Silva, Adrien Silva, Farnerud, Gladstone. Booked: Izmailov, Grimi, Liedson.
Referee:Yuri Baskakov (Russia).
ROUND UP
RUSSIAN CHAMPIONS Zenit St Petersburg are on the brink of a place in the Uefa Cup semi-finals after they routed Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 at the BayArena in Leverkusen.
PSV Eindhoven earned a deserved 1-1 draw at Fiorentina. The hosts took the lead on 56 minutes when the ball rebounded in off striker Adrian Mutu .
The Dutch champions equalised when striker Danny Koevermans blasted in on 63 minutes.
A late Cosmin Contra goal earned Getafe a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich. Italian Luca Toni's eighth goal of the Uefa Cup campaign, a header from a corner, had put the Bundesliga
leaders and competition favourites ahead on 26 minutes.
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