Rangers produced a classic counter-attacking performance to win 2-0 against Sporting and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

The Scottish league leaders soaked up plenty of pressure from the Lisbon side in the second leg of their quarter-final before breaking away to score the first goal of the tie on the hour.

French striker Jean-Claude Darcheville tucked away a Steven Davis cross to stun the losing 2005 finalists on a wet night in the Portuguese capital.

Sporting had gone the closest to a breakthrough when Brazilian striker Liedson struck the post in the first half with a powerful header.

Rangers secured a last four meeting with Fiorentina when substitute Steven Whittaker waltzed through a tiring Sporting defence to net a second goal in stoppage time.