Vignal seals spot-kick success

Grégory Vignal's spot-kick gave Rangers FC a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against a belligerent CS Marítimo side, to earn the Scottish Premier League runners-up a place in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Rangers dominant
With the Portguese team missing two of their first four penalties, the young French defender stepped up to confidently strike his kick past Marcos and send Alex McLeish's side through. The outcome was reward for a dominant Rangers display over the 120 minutes, with Dado Pršo cancelling out Marítimo's first-leg advantage in the 70th minute.

Pršo equaliser
Until that point it had looked like Gustavo Manduca's goal in Portugal a fortnight ago would be enough to end Rangers' European hopes. With the game slipping away from Rangers, however, Croatian international Pršo found space in the visitors' penalty area to level the tie.

Outstanding Marcos
Before then Rangers had been unable to turn their superiority into goals, though that was due in no small part to the outstanding performance of Marítimo's goalkeeper Marcos. The 28-year-old made a series of breathtaking saves to deny the home side's livewire attack of Pršo and Nacho Novo.

Timely intervention
Rangers signalled their intent early on, and Novo thought he had broken the deadlock but his header struck the crossbar. Moments later he was denied again, this time by the fingertips of Marcos as Rangers continued to press forward in search of the goal that would bring parity. Marítimo's threat was at best sporadic, although Alan did escape midway through the first-half only for his left-foot shot to flash wide of Stefan Klos's near post. 

Spectacular save
Rangers began the second period with the same verve and vigour that characterised their display in the opening 45 minutes, and Novo was left clasping his head in his hands after another outstanding save from Marítimo's Brazilian goalkeeper. The Spaniard was turning away in celebration when he sent a downward header towards the far corner but Marcos, at full stretch, spectacularly palmed the ball to safety.

Pršo the saviour
However, Rangers pressure was finally rewarded with 20 minutes remaining. Pršo found space in the Marítimo penalty area before drilling a left-foot shot across Marcos into the far corner of the goal. Neither side was able to find the net in the final 20 minutes of normal time and, with the 30 additional minutes also failing to produce a winner, the scene was set for the spot-kick drama.