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.
