Jack Butland’s penalty shootout heroics earned Rangers a place in the Europa League quarter-finals after Fenerbahce overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit at Ibrox.
The home goalkeeper saved from Dusan Tadic and Fred before Mert Hakan Yandas skied his effort over the bar, sparking jubilant scenes both on the pitch and in the stands.
Barry Ferguson’s side brought a two-goal lead back to Glasgow after a magnificent performance last week in Istanbul, but they were unable to replicate those levels as their recent struggles in front of their own fans continued.
Goals from Poland midfielder Sebastian Szymanski either side of half-time brought the visitors level on aggregate, and Jose Mourinho’s side pushed for a winner in normal time.
Tadic curled a shot just wide and Youssef En-Nesyri was denied only by a last-ditch James Tavernier tackle in the dying embers of normal time.
Vaclav Cerny was Rangers’ main threat throughout, taking defenders on at will and forcing several saves from visiting goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat.
However, neither side could find a decisive goal before the 90 minutes were up and, although Cerny and Tavernier went close for Rangers in extra time, spot kicks were needed to decide the tie.
Tavernier, Cerny and Tom Lawrence converted for the hosts in the shootout, setting up a meeting with Athletic Bilbao in the last eight after the Spanish outfit overcame Roma.
It is the first time Rangers have lost four successive home matches in their history, but the overriding emotion was that of joy and relief at Ibrox after Ferguson’s players held their nerve.
Rangers dig deep on another special Euro night
In a season of domestic disappointment, European competition has been the one positive for Rangers and that continued on a night of high drama at Ibrox.
The outpouring of joy that met Yandas’ miss came after 120 minutes of nerves, frustration and fear as fans were put through an emotional wringer.
Rangers started well on the night, with Cerny’s directness causing plenty of issues for the Fenerbahce backline, but when Szymanski swept home Filip Kostic’s cross on the volley, it swung the momentum towards the visitors.
They then dominated the second half and, when Szymanski stabbed in his second on 73 minutes, there only looked like one winner.
Mourinho’s side were incensed by a decision in extra-time to not award a penalty after Nicolas Raskin appeared to trip Yandas in the box. Referee Espen Eskas waved play on and VAR opted not to intervene.
Rangers stood tall defensively and rode their luck at times to take the tie to penalties and then showed character to regroup and win the shootout.
Ferguson has issues to fix, not least the dismal recent home form, but he appears to have restored a sense of togetherness and belief at the club, both among the players and fans.
He will be without both Mohamed Diomande and John Souttar for the first leg against Bilbao – they were both booked and pick up one-match suspensions as a result.
Before that though, attentions turn to Sunday’s Old Firm derby against the Scottish Premiership leaders at Celtic Park, where some weary bodies will have to go again.
