Rangers crash out of Europe

Kuzmanovic: Sealed Rangers' fate

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A 2-0 defeat to Stuttgart on Tuesday has ensured that Rangers' European adventure is over for another season.

Goals from Sebastian Rudy and Zdravko Kuzmanovic saw them come unstuck on their latest UEFA Champions League outing at Ibrox.

Walter Smith's side are now destined to finish bottom of Group G, meaning they will miss out on the consolation prize of a place in the Europa League.

Rangers found themselves on the back foot early on against stylish German opposition, with a narrow midfield leaving them vulnerable down the flanks.

Alexander Hleb was buzzing down the Stuttgart left and when he escaped to the by-line after 16 minutes he fizzed over a cross which was mis-kicked by Pavel Pogrebnyak but slid into an empty net by Rudy.

Kuzmanovic saw a free-kick, which snuck in off the post, ruled out for Matthieu Delpierre being offside moments later as Rangers rocked and threatened to tumble.

The Gers responded well, and did come back into the game as the half wore on, but Kris Boyd planted a free header over the bar when presented with their best opportunity.

Any hopes the hosts had of finding a route back into the game were then dashed after 59 minutes when Kuzmanovic arrived unmarked to meet a Rudy cross and power a header into the back of the net.

Allan McGregor helped to keep the scoreline down with a number of fine stops, as Stuttgart started to express themselves, but his heroics were to no avail.

Positive vibes

Any positive vibes the much-changed Rangers team sheet was supposed to elicit evaporated in the early stages as the hosts were pressed back by a slick visiting side driven on by an unusually large travelling support.

In the seventh minute McGregor threw himself to his left to push a decent drive from Stuttgart's German international striker, Cacau, past the post.

The opening goal for the visitors, though, was not far off.

Hleb drifted past Steven Whittaker inside the box and cut the ball back to striker Pogrebnyak who missed his shot but Rudy, perfectly positioned behind him, was not so wasteful.

The home fans were in immediate uproar and moments later there was almost cause for more despair when a free-kick by Kuzmanovic went in off the post but skipper Delpierre was ruled offside.

As the Light Blues fought back, with most of the emphasis on the fight, Boyd missed a sitter, heading over from 10 yards after Kenny Miller dropped a cross on to his head.

The first half ended with the Rangers fans still hopeful but the start to the second half was more subdued, both on and off the pitch.

Stuttgart remained on top, probing at the heart of the Ibrox defence as the home side huffed and puffed to garner possession.

There was no surprise though, when, just before the hour mark, Kuzmanovic headed in number two from Rudy's cross.

Spared blushes

An air of acceptance rather than anger swept through the Rangers support.

McGregor spared further blushes when he made a fine double save, first from Cacau and then from Pogrebnyak, who followed in the rebound only to drive against the goalkeeper's outstretched legs.

Cult hero Nacho Novo came off the bench to replace Miller but it was an exercise in futility.

The visitors were cruising and almost made it 3-0 in the 78th minute, Pogrebnyak crashing a shot from 14 yards off the outside of the post with the Rangers defence in tatters.

Five minutes from the end McGregor again thwarted Pogrebnyak as the big Russian fired in from close range.

The goalkeeper made further saves from Stuttgart substitutes Thomas Hitzlsperger and Timo Gebhart, and the final whistle could not come quickly enough for the home side.

As the Rangers support dissipated slowly into the Govan night their Stuttgart counterparts taunted them with the Celtic standard 'You'll never walk alone'.

It was the final insult.