Ferguson on the double as Rangers rout Tel Aviv
A double by Barry Ferguson and a Kris Boyd strike, in addition to a late counter by substitute Charlie Adam, gave the Gers a 5-2 victory on aggregate.
However, the Scots side will have to go into the next round without keeper Allan McGregor who was sensationally sent off after the Ibrox men had notched the third goal through skipper Ferguson in the 72nd minute.
As the visitors tried to retrieve the ball to restart the game McGregor foolishly got involved with Hapoel substitute Luciano De Bruno and was sent packing as the Hapoel player lay prostrate on the pitch.
Substitute keeper Stefan Klos had to replace striker Nacho Novo but Rangers still had enough with 10 men to make it four, Adam slotting home a Gavin Rae pass deep into injury time.
The Ibrox side started in a frenzy, with wide-men Chris Burke and Novo showing their intent with several driving runs.
But despite the Light Blues’ bluster, there was enough fragility in evidence at the back to promise a nervy night for the home fans.
However, the opening goal from Ferguson within 24 minutes put an end to tensions inside Ibrox.
Burke combined with Novo down the right and when the Spaniard hammered his cross into the penalty area the Ibrox skipper arrived on cue to slam home from 16 yards.
And 10 minutes later, the home side doubled their lead. After another Rangers attack had run out of steam, Hapoel skipper Yossi Abuksis inexplicably tried to play the ball across his own to box only to hit the lurking Boyd on the chest.
The Scotland striker buried the ball low past the helpless Shavit Elimelech.
The rather scrappy and erratic match continued apace after the interval.
Hapoel showed enough in flashes to suggest they could get the goal that could take the game to the wire.
There was no doubting the anxiety sweeping the stadium although fans’ favourite Dado Prso was brought on for Boyd just after the hour mark.
And the move paid off in the 72nd minute when the third goal arrived. Alan Hutton intercepted a slack pass from Yigal Antebi and the ball fell to Prso who crossed into Ferguson to slot past Elimelech from 10 yards.
Before the game restarted, McGregor seemed to get involved in an altercation with substitute De Bruno.
After several moments of chaos, with the Hapoel player still on the ground, it emerged that McGregor had been sent off. Novo was then substituted for Klos.
Still the home side stretched their lead in injury time when Adam, on for Brahim Hemdani, fired the fourth.
RANGERS: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Hemdani, Murray, Ferguson, Rae, Thomson, Burke (Adam 93), Boyd (Prso 64), Novo (Klos 75).
HAPOEL TEL-AVIV: Elimelech, Bondar, Doani, Antebi, Badir, Dago (De Bruno 46), Abuksis (Vermot 65), Wellington (Jolic 80), Toama, Ogbona, Barda.
Referee: Matteo Trefolini (Italy).
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