Rangers 1 - 0 Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) Tue 14/08/07

Nacho Novo (89)

Substitute Nacho Novo salvaged Rangers' hopes of joining Europe's elite in the lucrative group stages of the Champions League by claiming a dramatic last-minute winner to earn a 1-0 victory over Red Star at Ibrox.

Walter Smith's men will now be hopeful of finishing the job at Belgrade's imposing Marakana stadium in a fortnight's time with those 90 minutes in Serbia all that stands between them and a £10million jackpot.

Red Star provided a far stiffer challenge than the statistics suggested they would.

Apparently in turmoil following the sacking of coach Bosko Djurovski last week - he was promptly replaced by former boss Milorad Kosanovic - they had scraped past Estonians Levadia Tallinn on away goals in the last round.

Tonight's display was more convincing - but any hopes of shifting the tie in their favour at the halfway stage were wrecked by Novo's late winner.

Smith made the most of the vast squad he assembled over the summer by shuffling his pack for the visit of Red Star.

Kris Boyd eventually paid for his profligacy in front of goal with his place in the team. The striker - who has failed to hit the target this season - watched from the bench as the responsibility of sole striker went to Jean-Claude Darcheville.

It was a role the burly striker relished early on and he embarked on a powerful run down the left flank, swatting aside defenders like flies, but was denied the sight of the net bulging when his angled drive cannoned off the body of Dorde Tutoric.

Another battle between the two men would see the Red Star man pick up the first booking of the night minutes later.

The inexperience of Kirk Broadfoot - deputising for the injured Sasa Papac at left-back - gifted Red Star their first attack, Filip Dordevic pouncing on a slack pass from the former St Mirren skipper only for his run to be halted by a well-timed challenge from Carlos Cuellar.

Brahim Hemdani had been restored to the starting line-up, following his omission from Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory over St Mirren, his presence in midfield allowing Barry Ferguson to continue in the more attacking role which had yielded three goals from four games.

However, the Rangers skipper had been pinpointed as the key man in the Ibrox ranks by Red Star coach Kosanovic ahead of tonight's match and regularly found himself surrounded by three red and white shirts, effectively nullifying any attempts at creativity.

He took the opportunity to preside over a free-kick a few yards outside the box, one of the few chances in a turgid opening 45 minutes, but was further frustrated when the ball delivered into the packed goalmouth found no takers.

At the other end, Segundo Castillo let rip from 30 yards but the effort was well off target and Allan McGregor remained untroubled in the Rangers goal. Dordevic then held off Cuellar only to see his long-range shot dip over also.

The visiting team picked up another two yellow cards, when Dusan Andelkovic and Ognjen Koroman both had their names taken by the Swedish referee, before a melee involving players from both teams broke out on the stroke of half-time as the tie grew increasingly heated.

There were 55 minutes on the clock before Rangers had their first effort on target. Kevin Thomson's cross picked out Lee McCulloch a few yards from goal but his header lacked purchase and was comfortably held by goalkeeper Ivan Randelovic.

The crowd of 35, 364 were growing increasingly restless but perked up at the sight of Novo and Daniel Cousin limbering up on the sidelines with 25 minutes to go. DaMarcus Beasley and Darcheville were sacrificed for the duo, who had already bagged a goal apiece in the SPL this season.

Cousin, signed from Lens last week, proved to be an instant handful and Gueye Ibrahim was called into action to guide his opportunistic effort from the edge of the box out of play with his head, before the striker rifled inches over moments later.

Instead it was Novo who proved to be Rangers' savour, grabbing the only goal of the game in the final minute.

A long ball from McGregor was knocked into the path of the Spanish hitman by McCulloch and Novo rattled into the net with relish to send Ibrox into raptures.

RANGERS: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Broadfoot, Hemdani, Ferguson, McCulloch, Thomson, Darcheville (Cousin 65), Beasley (Novo 65),

Subs Not Used: Carroll, Whittaker, Adam, Murray, Boyd,

Ref: Martin Hansson

Man-of-the-match: Hemdani

Attendance: 35,364