Rangers claim sensational victory

Rangers snatched a 3-2 win from their Champions League opener against Porto thanks to a dramatic late header from Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

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 manager Alex McLeish may be regarded as a success domestically at Ibrox but he knows his abilities on the European stage were still being questioned.

The Glasgow side finished bottom of their Champions League group two years ago and were halted at the final qualification stage by CSKA Moscow - the eventual UEFA Cup winners - last time.

Even so, 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.

McLeish chose to axe three players from the side who were held to a draw by Falkirk in the Bank of Scotland Premier League with Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan, Thomas Buffel and Nacho Novo all benched.

That meant a debut for Olivier Bernard and a first start for Charlton striker Francis Jeffers, who came off the bench to make his own debut at Falkirk. Lovenkrands, another substitute at the weekend, was also handed a starting role.

Porto are also a team going through a transitional period. Coach Co Adriaanse is the club's fifth manager in 12 months since the departure of Jose Mourinho toChelsea, while goalkeeper Vitor Baia was the only surviving member of their Champions League-winning side to play against Rangers.

Even so, it was Porto who looked the more organised side in the early stages and Alan was not too far away when his drive was deflected just over in the opening minutes.

When Rangers eventually did venture into the opposition half it was in dramatic style and Lovenkrands displayed an impressive burst of pace to race down the left flank before squaring into the path of Jeffers.

The striker found himself sandwiched between Ricardo Costa and Pedro Emanuel, who managed to snuff out the challenge.

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.

The Dane, so desperate to impress after months of criticism, kept his nerve to send a superb left-footed volley past Vitor Baia from eight yards.

The second half was just two minutes old when Porto hauled themselves back onto level terms.

Peixoto whipped a dangerous-looking corner into the box, which was met by the head of Pepe at the near post, and all that was required was a simple flick into the back of the net.

Rangers set about trying to restore their lead but a volley from Jeffers, his first real chance of the game, was easily held by Vitor Baia.

However, 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.

He delivered an overhead flick to the back post, prompting an aerial battle between Prso and Vitor Baia, before the ball came off the knee of the Croatian striker and over the line.

Substitute Hugo Almeida had netted in Porto's last two Super Liga games and he should have been on the scoresheet within minutes of replacing Alan, but fluffed a header that should have been net-bound.

Once again, Porto managed to claw their way back into the game when centre-half Pepe was allowed to add to his own personal tally.

Like their first goal, the danger came from a Peixoto corner but this time Costa was on hand to nod into the path of Pepe and he stabbed home from close range after 71 minutes.

Pepe may have earned his wages for the night in terms of goals but he could do little to prevent Kyrgiakos finding the back of the net with just five minutes to go.

Ferguson's free-kick was met by the Greece international who beat Pepe to the ball before his back header left the net bulging and Rangers with all three points.