FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Teams in Europe often play defensively away from home, but it is rare for them to do the same in the home leg.

Scottish side Rangers reached the UEFA Cup final after a 0-0 draw in Glasgow last week, where they barely ventured forward, and a 4-2 win on penalties at Fiorentina on Thursday following another goalless draw.

The tactics from the Scottish title-chasers have upset Fiorentina and many football followers in Italy, despite the fact Italian sides used to be famous for their defensive play.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli said Rangers played the role of spoilers.

"A team that didn't want to play has been rewarded," he lamented after Thursday's defeat.

Rangers boss Walter Smith was very open about his game plan.

"At a certain point of the game we decided to aim for 0-0 because it was the only way to escape with a positive result," he told reporters.

Smith had been hampered by a string of injuries and suspensions in the home leg and ultimately his tactics have been vindicated.

Rangers are heading to their first European final since 1972 where they will play former boss Dick Advocaat's Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on May 14.

With the Scottish League Cup already in the bag, Rangers are seeking a quadruple of trophies this term with the Glasgow club favourites for the league title and looking forward to the Scottish Cup final on May 24.

Fiorentina also have a lot still to play for this season.

They occupy fourth spot in Serie A, the final Champions League qualifying berth, and lead fifth-placed AC Milan by two points with three games to go.

Even a semi-final represents a strong showing from Fiorentina given that Italian sides failed to make an impression in the Champions League and Serie A's other entrants to the UEFA Cup this season went out in the first round.

Fiorentina ceased to exist in 2002 because of financial problems but were reborn in the lower leagues and gradually made their way back up the divisions to become one of Italy's top clubs again.

"The lads have shown they have a great spirit and this bitterness will pass," Prandelli told reporters.

"We deserved to get to the final, in two games we lacked a bit of luck."

(Writing by Mark Meadows in Milan; Editing by Peter Rutherford)