FBK Kaunas 2 - 1 Rangers

FBK Kaunas 2-1 Rangers: Gers crash out

Updated: August 5, 2008, 3:15 PM ET

Rangers were sent crashing out of Europe when Linas Pilibaitis headed a late winner for FBK Kaunas to earn the hosts a 2-1 aggregate victory in their Champions League qualifier.

The first leg at Ibrox ended goalless last week but Rangers looked set to progress against the team sponsored by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov's bank when Kevin Thomson netted in the first half.

But Nerijus Radzius levelled with a spectacular free-kick for the hosts before the break and a last-gasp sucker-punch from Pilibaitis earned the Lithuanians a place in the third qualifying round.

Rangers headed into the game fully aware of what was at stake.

Success meant taking a step closer to a £10million jackpot while failure would mean their European season ending before the start of the Scottish Premier League campaign.

Such a scenario was almost unthinkable for a team who played 19 matches in Europe last season, culminating in defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final.

Smith reverted to the formation he favoured in Europe last year, with the role of lone striker going to summer signing Kenny Miller.

Jean-Claude Darcheville was dropped to the bench following the first game in Glasgow, with Nacho Novo introduced to midfield and Christian Dailly playing just in front of the back four.

As expected, Carlos Cuellar failed to feature after being rated extremely doubtful with a calf injury, meaning Kirk Broadfoot again deputised at centre-back.

A steady downpour all day meant the game was played in difficult conditions for both sets of players but Rangers quickly tried to impose themselves on the match.

Novo drove into the box from the right and unleashed a shot which goalkeeper Marian Kello managed to get a fingertip to. Charlie Adam was lurking at the far post but failed to connect.

Thomson then tried his luck with a long-range low shot from midfield which was comfortably smothered by Kello.

Rangers were threatening again when Dailly released Miller through on goal but the striker hooked over the crossbar and a golden chance was lost.

At the other end, Lee McCulloch received the first booking of the match for a foul on Rafael Ledesma, before the Brazilian forced a decent save from goalkeeper Allan McGregor from the resultant free-kick.

Thomson and Pascal Mendy were also added to the referee's book in quick succession as the tie grew more heated.

Rangers continued to push forward and a blunder from Mindaugas Baguzis almost gifted them the opener, when his poor attempt at a headed pass-back to Kello trickled narrowly past the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

The breakthrough came after 33 minutes when Thomson pounced on a Novo pass and slipped the ball through Kello's legs from a tight angle from about eight yards.

Kaunas could have restored parity when Ledesma's free-kick was missed by everyone in the box and curled inches past the post, with McGregor helpless in the Rangers goal.

Instead, it was Radzius who had the net bulging two minutes before the break with a ferocious right-footed free-kick from 30 yards.

Kaunas knew they needed a second goal and Pilibaitis was not too far away after the restart with an effort which whistled past the post, before Marius Cinikas saw his powerful shot crash off the crossbar and out of play.

Rangers were under pressure again when Nukri Manchkava provided a great cross to the back post which was met by Adrian Mrowiec and McGregor did well to hold the close-range downward header.

Vytautas Luksa was then booked for a challenge on Thomson just outside the box but Adam's free-kick failed to make it past the Kaunas wall.

That proved to be his final contribution to the match when Andrius Velicka was thrown into the action against his former club.

Rangers were forced to deal with a late onslaught, with Mendy dragging a shot narrowly wide from distance as the Lithuanians cranked up the pressure.

Velicka could then have killed off the hopes of his countrymen - and made himself an instant hero with his new club - when Sasa Papac teed up the shot only for the striker to blast over.

With the final whistle beckoning, McGregor was called into action again, this time to smother from Kaunas substitute Bojan Mamic.

But he was forced to pluck the ball out of the back of the net with just three minutes to go when Pilibaitis snatched victory with a close-range header after Rangers made a mess of defending a corner from the left.