Jean-Claude Darcheville and Steven Whittaker scored second-half goals as Rangers FC defeated Sporting Clube de Portugal 2-0 on both the night at the José Alvalade and on aggregate to advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.
Last week's goalless first leg at Ibrox had been a tense affair, yet Sporting were left with little choice but to pour forward after French striker Darcheville swept in a Steven Davis cross on the hour, leaving gaps which substitute Whittaker exploited in added time.
Even bookings for Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson, which rule them out of the semi-final first leg against ACF Fiorentina, could not dampen the mood and Rangers will need little reminding that they defeated Sporting en route to lifting their only European trophy, the 1971/72 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.