Rangers reached the UEFA Cup final after holding Fiorentina to a 0-0 draw before edging a tense penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Substitute Nacho Novo scored the winning spot kick to set up a meeting with Zenit St. Petersburg and Rangers' former coach Dick Advocaat in the final at the City of Manchester Stadium in two weeks time.

Fiorentina dominated possession throughout the match but struggled to create clear cut chances as the Rangers defence, led magnificently by Spaniard Carlos Cuellar, manfully fought off attack after attack.

Their task was made all the more difficult in extra-time when Daniel Cousin was deservedly sent-off 10 minutes from the end, but the Scots held on before earning a famous victory.

Barry Ferguson actually missed the first penalty of the shoot-out, but Neil Alexander saved from Fabio Liverani and then veteran striker Christian Vieri fired over the bar, which allowed Novo to fire home the winning spot-kick.

The Fiorentina players were in tears at the end of the match and understandably so as they looked the classier side throughout.

However, Rangers, perfectly aware of their own limitations, set out with a game-plan which was all about containment, and while it was an ultra-negative approach it also ultimately proved to be ultra-effective.

The hosts were limited to shots from distance and launching balls into the box but nothing much got to Alexander as Cuellar and David Weir cleared everything that came their way.

In fact the only real save that Alexander had to make was from a 40-yard free-kick from Adrian Mutu in the second-half.

That is not to say that Fiorentina were not without their chances with substitute Vieri missing their best of the night, within moments of coming on, as he saw the ball get stuck under his feet ten minutes from the end of normal time.

Rangers almost nicked it themselves right at the end of the 90, but Sebastien Frey pushed away a curled effort from Steven Whittaker.

Rangers continued to defend resolutely in the extra-time period, although they were really under the cosh after Cousin stupidly got himself sent-off after butting Liverani.

The referee gave a second yellow card but in truth it could have been a straight red.

He will now miss the final but Rangers won't dwell too much on that as penalties from Whittaker, Brahim Hemdani, Sasa Papac and then Novo earned them the win after Ferguson's opening miss to send the large travelling contingent from Glasgow into ecstasy.

Seán Fay / Eurosport