Rangers grab late winner

Rangers 3 Porto 2

The Ibrox side had been ahead twice in the game through goals from Peter Lovenkrands and Dado Prso but both were cancelled out by Pepe.

Just when the Scottish champions looked like they would be forced to settle for the draw, Greece international Kyrgiakos bagged all three points with five minutes to go.

Rangers and Porto are being tipped as the contenders to finish second in Group H this season, with Inter Milan favourites, and both clubs knew the opener at Ibrox could be crucial.

When Rangers did take the lead after 35 minutes, it came as something of a surprise. Fernando Ricksen flighted a long ball into the box, which was missed completely by the heads of Hamed Namouchi and Pepe but fell to the feet of Lovenkrands who volleyed past Vitor Baia.

The second half was just two minutes old when Porto hauled themselves level when Pepe headed in a corner.

Rangers were back in front again after 59 minutes. Barry Ferguson’s free-kick was met by Kyrgiakos, who nodded into the path of Namouchi, whose flick was converted by Prso.

Once again, Porto managed to claw their way back into the game when centre-half Pepe stabbed home from close range after 71 minutes.

But with just five minutes to go Ferguson’s free-kick was met by Kyrgiakos whose back header left the net bulging and Rangers with all three points.

RANGERS: Waterreus, Ricksen, Rodriguez, Kyrgiakos, Bernard, Namouchi (Novo 72), Ferguson, Murray, Lovenkrands (Buffel 56), Prso, Jeffers (Thompson 84).

FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Pepe, Ricardo Costa, Pedro Emanuel (Sonkaya 41), Cesar Peixoto, Gonzalez, Diego (Quaresma 64), Ibson, Alan (Hugo Almeida 64), Sokota, Jorginho.

Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland).