CSKA Moscow 2 Rangers 1Rangers must produce a win in front of their own fans if they are to play in the Champions League this season. Rangers had made a stumbling start, allowing CSKA to net in the fourth minute. Nacho Novo equalised before the break - but within seconds of the restart Jiri Jarosek had fired the hosts back in front, and despite some frantic play at either end that was how it finished.
Rangers had plenty of attacking options with Peter Lovenkrands declared fit and Shota Arveladze elevated from the bench. Rangers soon found themselves a goal down. Vagner Silva de Souza scored, throwing himself forward to meet a cross from the left delivered by Ivica Olic and which took a deflection off Zura Khizanishvili.
Rangers soon had goalkeeper Stefan Klos to thank that the Brazilian did not double his tally.
Rangers were giving away too many free-kicks and finding themselves penned into their own half too often, and there was another scare when Olic got in behind Boumsong chasing a long ball over the top. The Croatian went down as the Frenchman - the last man - challenged. But the referee instantly waved play on.
It was the other Croatian on the pitch - Rangers' Dado Prso - who was to make the next significant contribution. When Vasily Berezutskiy lost control of the ball he slipped the ball across for Novo as the Russians' last man closed in. Novo's first touch was too heavy, but goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's decision to meet him was not vindicated by his gathering of the ball - and suddenly the box was full of players trying to get the ball. Prso had waded in and the ball broke for Novo to make amends by slotting into the net in the 37th minute.
Rangers had to survive another penalty appeal - for handball - before the break. But the reprieve was short-lived as Jarosik needed only a few seconds after the restart to make it 2-1. The Czech fired a rasping drive across and beyond Klos.
The game ended with Rangers throwing men forward as if this was the deciding leg.
CSKA MOSCOW: Akinfeev, Semberas, Berezoutski, Gusev (Aldonin 76), Olic, Wagner (Dadu 70), Odiah, Zhirkov, Jarosik, Berezutsky (Semak 46), Rahimic. Subs Not Used: Mandrykin, Kirichenko, Laizans, Shershun. Booked: Semberas, Zhirkov. Goals: Wagner 4, Jarosik 46.
RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Khizanishvili, Boumsong, Vignal, Ross, Alex Rae, Arveladze, Lovenkrands (Thompson 83), Novo, Prso. Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Vanoli, Malcolm, Hughes, Hutton, Andrews. Booked: Prso, Khizanishvili, Ricksen, Novo, Alex Rae. Goals: Novo 36. Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland).
