Diouf

By FOS Editor
February 24 2011

A late Maurice Edu strike saw Rangers through to the last sixteen of the Europa League on away goals.

Maurice Edu's stoppage-time goal sent Rangers into the last 16 of the Europa League after a thrilling Lisbon finish.

After a slow start to the game when neither keeper was really tested, Rangers took the lead after 20 minutes through El Hadji Diouf's precise header from a Steven Davis cross.

Just as it looked Rangers would take the lead into half time Sporting levelled three minutes from the break when Rangers failed to clear a cross into the box and Pedro Mendes curled it in against his former club.

Things looked bleak for the Scottish Champions when Yannick Djalo was left unmarked to head in after 82 minutes, but Edu stabbed home a David Healey cross to ensure an away-goals victory.

Knocking out the club Rangers defeated on their way to the 2008 Uefa Cup final sets up a tie against PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch league leaders having overcome French outfit Lille 5-3 on aggregate after a 3-1 win in the Netherlands.

The only slight downside for Rangers will be a fixture pile up as they look to get their SPL fixtures up to date before the split in mid April