Gusev's late reminder for Rangers

Rangers 3 Dynamo Moscow 1

It was back to the future for Rangers last night at Ibrox. A tantalising glimpse of the European trophy the Scottish club secured three decades ago galvanised Dick Advocaat's side to almost securing a passport into the Uefa Cup third round.

However, this re-match of two teams who staged a Cup-Winners' Cup final in 1972 provided a sting in the tail. Dynamo Moscow's playmaker Rolan Gusev pounced in stoppage time to fire home a right foot shot that keeps the tie alive.

Rangers looked to have sewn things up when Ronald de Boer's header 10 minutes from the end provided a commanding three-goal lead that should have been a sufficient for the return trip to Moscow. Gusev then tore that away.

It rather spoiled a good night's work for Rangers and incensed manager Dick Advocaat. "I'm not happy with that late goal. It is quite simple," he said afterwards. "It's not the first time either.

"We have enough experience in the team who can handle this sort of situation. At 3-0 with three minutes to go you close it down, kill off the game and you win 3-0. But some players like to try for 4-0," he added.

Ibrox had not had to wait long for a breakthrough from the home side. After eight minutes Lorenzo Amoruso had fired them in front with a fine piece of finishing that any striker would have been proud of, never mind a central defender.

The Italian was in the right place when Craig Moore headed Claudio Reyna's free-kick against a post and thrashed a low volley past goalkeeper Vasily Khomutovsky.

The Russians were shaken but not stirred and Petr Bystrov almost snatched an equaliser with a fierce free-kick which stung the palms of Stefan Klos halfway through the first half.

However Rangers still posed the greater threat and Reyna squandered a fine chance in 39 minutes when he shot wide after bursting onto de Boer's fine pass.

Michael Ball replaced Moore ­ hurt in the build-up to the goal ­ at half-time and the £6m signing from Everton was given a torrid European baptism as Dynamo poured forward. The Russians were menacing on the counter-attack with Gusev pulling all the strings while substitute Alexey Medvedev had pace to burn.

The pair combined when Medvedev brought down Gusev's cross with his right boot and turned to fire a shot which Amoruso blocked.

Barely a minute later, Dynamo broke again. Boulykine picked out Gusev again and this time the midfielder delivered a low cutback into the path of Alexander Tochilin's run, which Klos beat out.

However, Ball settled Rangers' nerves when he doubled their lead on the hour. Darius Zutautas foolishly fouled Tore Andre Flo and Ball measured a 25-yard free kick which curled around the wall and was deflected in.

Rangers (3-4-3): Klos; Moore (Ball, 46), Konterman, Amoruso; Ricksen, Ferguson, Reyna, Numan; Caniggia, Flo (McCann 66), de Boer. Substitutes not used: J Christiansen (gk), Kanchelskis, Latapy, Ross Vidmar

Dynamo Moscow(4-5-1): Khomutovsky; Hornyak, Zharinov, Zutautas, Semberas; Gusev, Tochilin (Kharlachev 80), Bystrov, Grishin (Dyatel 86), Nemov (Medvedev h-t); Boulykine. Substitutes not used: Kramarennko (gk), Movikov, Kliouev, Cesnauskis.

Referee: S Bre (France).