UEFA Final could be my proudest moment say Rangers boss Smith after semi-final Sporting victory

A magnificent 2-0 victory over stunned Sporting Lisbon at the Jose Alvalade Stadium last night secured the Ibrox club's first European semi-final appearance in 36 years.

Superb goals from Jean- Claude Darcheville and substitute Steven Whittaker - the latter from a 50-yard solo run in the final minute - earned the SPL leaders a last-four clash with Everton's last-16 Italian conquerors, Fiorentina.

On a memorable night for the 3,000 travelling supporters, the only black mark came with bookings for skipper Barry Ferguson and midfield partner Kevin Thomson, who will both miss the first leg of the semi-final at Ibrox in two weeks' time.

Even that was a mere blip on a truly memorable night, as Smith admitted: "It would be one of my proudest achievements if we get to the Final. I have been proud of the team all season in the way they have handled the pressure of having to win these sorts of games - especially the qualifying ties in the Champions League.

"There were obvious disappointments in there but no one can tell me you can take a team and make them like a Man United or a Barcelona, it can't be done. We have had a great response from everyone.

"I am absolutely delighted for the players. They are a great bunch to work with and everyone knows the pressure you are under at Rangers, where you have to achieve domestically and European-wise as quickly as possible.

"They have responded to everything we have asked them to do. Their level of performance may have been a little inconsistent but the results have been consistent. I suppose you expect that, considering they are a new team of no real pedigree.

"This takes the profile of the club up again, which is terrific. I think it's great for everyone concerned at Rangers that we have managed to get into the semi-final of a European tournament."

Smith, who will seek a dossier on Fiorentina from Everton successor David Moyes, added: "We have gained in confidence over the season. For us, it's not often you play 16 European games and that's going to be 18 now.

"The suspensions to Ferguson and Thomson are disappointing but, when you have that number of games, you are bound to get a level of bookings.

"There is frustration that there were times when we broke away in the first half and players were pulled down but the Sporting lads were not booked. I didn't think the bookings we had were any worse, though I wouldn't argue they were cautions.

"Barry's for kicking the ball away was disappointing. Thomson's I couldn't understand either because he had clearly got the ball for a throw-in. They are only small disappointments in comparison with the achievement."

Reaching the last four also places the thorny issue of an extension to the SPL season firmly on the agenda. The Ibrox side are unhappy at being asked to play four league games in eight days - but, with Celtic strongly opposed to an extension, they are resigned to doing so.

"We just have to face that if that is the situation," added Smith, choosing his words carefully. "We still have the semi-final to go. We have to play the games and I don't know what they will ask us to do.

"If everybody has been quoted accurately, then it was said that it would affect 'sporting integrity' to extend the season. Far be it for us to go against sporting integrity. We will maybe have to play the four games in a week and that's it. I don't want to make any kind of argument."