RANGERS saw their Europa League dream come to an end with a 1-0 defeat at home to PSV EINDHOVEN.
The Gers battled to a goalless draw in the first leg in Holland, but they fell behind after just 15 minutes when Balazs Dzsudzsak’s cross was diverted into the net by a sliding Jeremain Lens.
The home side failed to muster a response until after the interval, with teenage Greg Wylde the driving force, but PSV were let off the hook by some poor finishing and a bit of luck.
The officials failed to spot Atiba Hutchinson handle the ball on the line to prevent Maurice Edu equalising after Steven Naismith headed against the bar, and Madjid Bougherra then had a penalty appeal waved away after he was clipped in the area.
PSV could have made the scoreline more convincing late on, but Marcus Berg bundled a chance wide at the back post before Dzsudzsak clattered the upright with a free-kick.
However, the Dutch side had done enough to clinch their place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Santi Cazoria and Giuseppe Rossi were on target as VILLARREAL beat BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2-1 to wrap up a 5-3 aggregate success, while 2008 UEFA Cup winners ZENIT ST PETERSBURG crashed out, 3-2 on aggregate, despite beating FC TWENTE, 2-0, in their second leg.
There was misery for the two remaining English sides as MANCHESTER CITY and LIVERPOOL both bowed out. City overcame the first-half dismissal of Mario Balotelli to beat DYNAMO KIEV 1-0, but it was the Ukrainian side that went through on aggregate, 2-1. And Liverpool followed them out of the competition as they were held to a goalless draw at home by BRAGA, who advance courtesy of their 1-0 victory in the first leg.
And finally; BENFICA earned a 1-1 draw at PARIS ST GERMAIN to advance with a 3-2 aggregate win; Dimitri Kombarov, Welliton and Alex all netted as SPARTAK MOSCOW sealed a convincing 4-0 aggregate win over AJAX, taking the second leg 3-0; and Hulk and Fredy Guarin netted as FC PORTO wrapped up a 3-1 aggregate win by running out 2-1 winners in their second leg against CSKA MOSCOW.