Rangers ................. 1

Bayer Leverkusen .... 1

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Rangers pushed their way through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup last night with the kind of disciplined display which has so often been the hallmark of their more successful opponents in European competition over the past few seasons.

This time the highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen team from the German Bundesliga returned home pondering on just how much had changed in Rangers' attitude to the games in Europe.

There was no cavalry charge last night - despite what the 50,012 fans might have wanted.

There was no reckless searching for the goals which would please these fans because coach Dick Advocaat knew he held the initiative from the beginning because of the valuable lead he held from the way game.

Advocaat recognised the dangers, of course, as he looked at how Aston Villa and others failed after being in control of a game from a first leg played away from their own ground.

Therefore he set out his stall and it was a cautious one, asking the German to commit themselves, when they are a nation who always like to play on the counter attack. In essence he played them at their own game. And that worked last night.

There were difficult moments for the Ibrox defence. Moments where they looked as if they would give away their advantage in the first half - but there was always the sense of the inevitable result as the game wore on.

The longer the game progressed the more the advantage Rangers had was consolidated. And when in that fifty-sixth minute Jonatan Johansson scored, the game swung beyond the reach of the Leverkusen side.

There was just no way that they were going to be able to score three goals - and that was now their target for qualification - in the time left.

That was how it turned out even though Rangers had two players stretchered off - Lionel Charbonnier in sixty-six minutes and then Barry Ferguson in injury time.

The Finnish international Antti Niemi replaced Charbonnier and Scott Wilson took over from Ferguson. But while Bayer did get a goal back to equalise, and they did try to put Rangers under pressure, the Scots still had as good chances as they did in that closing spell.

There was an opportunity for Barry Ferguson in 77 minutes when the German keeper saved his try and a free kick from Jorg Albertz which had the Germans concerned.

The performance last night was not of the quality of that in Germany but it was one which took Rangers into the next round and ultimately that was the target and what the fans wanted above all else.

It was also a result which was gained against one of the leading teams in one of the world's major soccer powers and that is a cause for satisfaction for Rangers this morning.

Lorenzo Amoruso was one of the Rangers' top players last night. The support cheered him and chanted his name and he was able to look back with satisfaction at the way he and Colin Hendry handled the Bayern strike force - and at the ball he sent through for the so crucial goal.

Yes, it was a long ball from defence by the central defender who was booed at the weekend which sent Johansson clear 11 minutes after half time.

The Finnish striker gathered the ball and raced towards the German goal, he shrugged off one challenge, looked up, saw options for himself but decided to shoot and he was right.

His strike went beyond Adam Matsye and went into the net as Ibrox erupted.

That was what the fans had patiently awaited and when it came they roared their acclaim, knowing, just as the Germans did, that it was all over.

Ulf Kirsten, kept quiet for most of the night, apart from being yellow-carded before half-time for a late challenge on Amoruso, scored in the seventy-seventh minute. But even with Charbonnier off and even with the boost that gave the Germans, it was too little too late.

Rangers had taken care of business. They had shown that they were capable of matching the Germans tactically over two legs - no mean achievement!

Certainly there had been moments in the first half where Bayer had been dangerous and Charbonnier had been forced to make saves. But, then, that is a part of European football.

What mattered is that Rangers did control the game.

They knew what they had to do on the night - and, more importantly they knew what their opponents had to do.

In the end they were able to fulfil their task while Bayer failed.

Last night was an important result for Rangers and it is also

an important result for the rest of Scottish football. It is the kind of victory which causes the rest of the Continent to sit up and take notice because Bayer are

recognised as a force in their own land.

Now another test looms in the third round and Rangers have to ready themselves for that. But, already, they have established some kind of reputation in Europe this season.

That had to bring them some some plaudits.

It was a bonus for them too to have just one player cautioned. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was yellow-carded in the second half but is still clear for the next round.

qANDY Goram has been released by Sheffield United, despite manager Steve Bruce tipping him to shine at the top for years.

The former Rangers goalkeeper was on a three-month contract with the Bramall Lane club, however, that is over and Bruce has decided not to offer him a new contract.

He said: ''Andy has been terrific for us, but Alan Kelly is now fit and we have adequate cover with Simon Tracey.

''I am sure someone will want him, and I will do everything in my power to get him a new club. He'll go with the highest of recommendations from me.''

''He came here with a point to prove about his fitness and he has not let anyone down on that score.''

''He has proved that he is still capable of playing at English first division standard, at least, for many years yet.

Goram has been linked with a string of clubs including Motherwell, Barnsley, Brescia and Benfica.