Nerlinger's double sets up Old Firm final showdown

Rangers 3 Partick Thistle

Christian Nerlinger wiped out seven months of pain yesterday by steering Rangers into the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on May 4, but Barry Ferguson's threshold may yet be tested.

The Rangers captain put the final nail into Partick Thistle's coffin at Hampden Park, after Nerlinger had hit two sweet goals, before being taken off to protect a rib injury which will be of great concern to Berti Vogts.

Scotland's new manager wants Ferguson to play against France in Paris on Wednesday night, but Alex McLeish is not keen. "Barry is running on empty and needed an injection to play today, and I will have a chat with Berti to let him know our feelings," said the Rangers manager.

McLeish did not have to go very far. Vogts was in the stands at Hampden, which was appropriate since the man who hogged the limelight was one of his compatriots.

Nerlinger was capped by Vogts for Germany when the midfielder played for Bayern Munich, but he has been on the sidelines since moving to Ibrox last summer because of an Achilles injury. "Moments like today was the pay-back for all the work and pain I invested," he smiled afterwards. "Now I can finally forget the last seven months."

Nerlinger wrecked Partick's hopes before this contest had properly begun, scoring after just nine minutes. Andrei Kanchelskis shuttled the ball on to Tore Andre Flo, who then fed Nerlinger for the German to thrash a low left-foot shot past goalkeeper Kenny Arthur from the edge of the box.

The First Division club – in their first Scottish Cup semi-final in 23 years – were winning the contest off the pitch thanks to their raucous 10,000 fans, who came equipped with a forest of lion-rampant Scottish flags, and Danny Lennon came close with a deft chip that just cleared Stefan Klos's bar. The striker Gerry Britton also conjured up a threat after 66 minutes, with a looping shot that flew just inches too high, before Rangers added the crucial second goal five minutes later.

Ferguson and Nerlinger were at the core of the move, before Peter Lovenkrands supplied some width on the left. His low cross was met by Nerlinger, who had continued his run. He volleyed past Arthur.

Then, Ferguson demonstrated why Vogts wants him in the Stade de France. With sublime movement, starting and finishing the move, he gathered Flo's lay-off and steered a shot past the keeper.

Goals: Nerlinger (10) 1-0; Nerlinger (72) 2-0; Ferguson (78) 3-0.

Rangers (4-3-3): Klos; Ricksen, Amoruso, Malcolm, Vidmar; Kanchelskis, Ferguson (Hughes, 80), Nerlinger; Caniggia (Lovenkrands, 65), Flo, McCann. Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Dodds, Latapy.

Partick Thistle (4-4-2): Arthur; Kelly, Craigen, Paterson, Archibald; Walker, Deas, Lennon, McCulloch (McAnespie, 78); McLean (Cameron, 65), Britton (McKinstry, 87). Substitutes not used: Gow (gk), Dolan.

Referee: M McCurry.

Bookings: Rangers: Ricksen, McCann. Partick: McLean.

Man of the match: Nerlinger.

Attendance: 31,969.