Rangers in group stage thanks to Arveladze

FC Copenhagen 1 Rangers 2 Rangers win 3-2 on agg

A superb late goal by Shota Arveladze fired Rangers into the Champions' League group stages for the first time in three seasons last night. The Georgian set up a 3-2 win on aggregate, with a Mikel Arteta penalty having been cancelled out by home substitute Alvaro Santos minutes before Arveladze struck.

Alex McLeish, the Rangers manager, said: "We knew we were better than the showing at Ibrox but at the same time it doesn't mean Copenhagen are a bad side. It is a good result but we know we have a long way to go."

With as much as £10 million resting on the outcome of the game, Rangers were dealt a blow with the news that Craig Moore would not play, his injured hamstring meaning Henning Berg partnered Zura Khizanishvili in the centre of defence.

After the 1-1 draw at Ibrox, Rangers knew they had to score to even have a chance of staying in the competition, but it was 23 minutes before Ronald de Boer had their first shot on goal, which went well wide. However the visitors did gradually begin to asset themselves, although no clear-cut chances materialised and, at the other end, Thomas Roll Larsen headed wide from a corner when he might have done better.

At half-time Rangers knew they were 45 minutes away from going out but within seven had netted the away goal they needed. Michael Ball fired in a vicious 30-yard free-kick which goalkeeper Balazs Raboczki could only parry and Michael Mols was brought down as he raced onto the rebound. Arteta confidently converted the penalty.

Copenhagen forced Rangers back as they searched for an equaliser and after Santos stumbled in the box when presented with a glorious opportunity, the Brazilian made amends with seven minutes to go, heading past Stefan Klos after Bob Malcolm missed a header.

"Copenhagen got a big lift by the goal and it looked as if they had extra legs at that time," admitted McLeish.

Extra time looked inevitable until Arveladze netted with a superb finish in the 86th minute, connecting with Christian Nerlinger's header as he allowed himself to fall backwards.

FC Copenhagen (4-4-2): Raboczki; Albrechtsen, Svensson, Tobiasen, Rooba; Norregaard, Nielsen, Mykland (Pettersson, 64), Roll Larsen; Jonsson (Dos Santos, 64), Zuma. Substitutes not used: Kihlstedt (gk), Zivkovic, Christiansen, Svard, Moller.

Rangers (4-4-1-1): Klos; Ricksen, Berg (Malcolm, 72), Khizanishvili, Ball; Arteta, Ferguson, Nerlinger, De Boer (Vanoli, 75); Arveladze; Mols (Thompson, 61). Substitutes not used: Capucho, Ross, McGregor (gk), Hughes.

Referee: Z Siric (Croatia).

* Celtic booked their place in the group stages of the Champions's League with 1-0 win over MTK Hungaria at Parkhead last night. Chris Sutton's goal in the 13th minute made it 5-0 on aggregate.