Attendance 49,170
Beleaguered Manager Alex McLeish thus becomes the first Scottish club boss to guide his charges beyond the group stages of Europe’s premier competition - an achievement he rightly regards as one of the finest of his managerial career.
There were two changes in the home line-up following Saturday’s fiasco with Barry Ferguson and Hamed Namouchi replacing Alan Hutton and Steven Thompson whilst Inter made six changes from the tie between the two clubs in Milan on 28 September - but it was six changes that included the inclusion of star striker in a team containing no fewer than ten Internationalists.
There was an electric atmosphere inside the Stadium with a full house of 49,170 spectators present, including a sizeable Italian contingent.
Rangers, wearing all-blue, took the game to their more illustrious opponents from the opening minutes - Chris Burke’s cross being only just too high for Namouchi in thirteen minutes - his header being blocked and the ball eventually scrambled clear.
The Italian giants were comfortable on the ball, their class, skill and vision all too apparent to knowing observers - and as if to underline the point Adriano threatened in 21 minutes, his 25-yard drive being deflected wide.
Seven minutes later Ronald Waterreus cleared an inswinging corner from Sinisa Mihajlovic for another corner - and on this occasion Adriano was offered a free header from which he put Inter ahead.
Ibrox was silenced - but only temporarily, for within eight minutes Rangers were level when a slide-rule pass from Thomas Buffel released Lovenkrands who coolly advanced on goalkeeper Francesco Toldo before slotting the ball home.
The visitors continued to look the more accomplished side - but Rangers were working hard to nullify their opponents’ superiority.
The first yellow card of the evening arrived on the stroke of half-time when Cristiano Zanetti was guilty of dissent. It would prove costly later on.
The second-half would prove to be little different with Inter continuing to threaten on the break - twenty minutes in Mihajlovic saw his 25-yard free-kick held by Waterreus.
Two minutes later the game boiled over when, with Marco Andreolli down injured, Rangers played on. In fairness no foul had been awarded - and even when play did stop the Referee checked the player before calling on Inter’s physiotherapist.
The Nerazzuri were reduced to ten men in 86 minutes when quite unbelievably the Inter captain Cristiano Zanetti received his second yellow card (and subsequent red) for dissent - kicking the ball away following a Matteo Momente foul on Buffel.
Bob Malcolm’s bullet free-kick almost broke the deadlock - Namouchi heading over.
Both sides played out time, content with the 1-1 draw. All very well, provided the game in Bratislava remained goalless. Had Artmedia scored, Rangers would have been eliminated.
Thankfully there was no late twist in the tail, and Rangers were through to the last sixteen of the Champions’ League.
Afterwards a delighted Alex McLeish looked back on a memorable night:
"I’m delighted to go through. It’s a marvellous achievement, although tempered by poor League form. We’ve all under-performed, but I could never have envisaged the amount of injuries we’ve had this season. Tonight is up there with my other achievements at the club. Barry Ferguson and Thomas Buffel added great quality. Peter Lovenkrands troubled Inter with his pace, and Bob Malcolm was disciplined in midfield. I hope this is a springboard. Inter are a tremendously talented side."
On his future, ‘Eck would only say:
"I will discuss with my Chairman in the next 48 hours."
If McLeish has perhaps deservedly been criticised for the quality of some of his signings, one can but wonder at the fate of Dutchman Co Adrianse. Having spent £65m on new players, Porto have finished bottom of the group.
RANGERS Waterreus; Ricksen, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Murray; Burke, Malcolm, Ferguson, Namouchi; Buffel, Lovenkrands
UNUSED SUBS Thompson, McCormack, Klos, Fanfan, Hutton, Jeffers, Smith
INTERNAZIONALE Toldo; Andreolli (J. Zanetti 69), Mihajlovic, Materazzi (Momente 40), Burdisso; Solari, C. Zanetti, Pizarro, Wome; Martins, Adriano (Boumsong 80)
UNUSED SUBS Cambiasso, Julio Cesar, Favalli, Samuel
REFEREE Konrad Plautz (Austria)