ShaneRalfRoss 342 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 MAURICE EDU left it very late in Lisbon.So late, in fact, that El Hadji Diouf had disappeared into the away dressing room fearing Rangers' Europa League dream was over.Walter Smith's charges had one, last heroic surge left in them.Richard Foster found David Healy and the Ulsterman picked out Edu with a cross which was just begging to be tapped home.Just like the last-gasp Old Firm winner last season that will always live with him, this was a chance the American was never going to miss.As Lisbon's net bulged, the Rangers bench spilled on to the pitch in wild scenes of celebration.In the stands, the travelling Gers support hugged and kissed the nearest man in blue.That's because, as Edu insists, this one was for THEM.The fans who had suffered in almost stunned silence at Parkhead last Sunday.Those supporters who had travelled here in hope more than in expectation.This was payback. This was for standing by their team.Edu - whose own performance in the Old Firm hammering had been heavily criticised - said: "Football is a game where results are not always going to go your way, it's how you respond to that."Hopefully this is payback. We showed a good mentality tonight and tried to bounce back from the Celtic defeat."Now we must take some positives from this game and take some momentum from the result."You are always going to get criticised as a footballer."You have to believe in your team and the players you have around you."We know what we have in the squad and what we are capable of."Edu's toils in the derby that means so much to Gers fans had turned the spotlight on him as the champions struggle without crocked midfield anchorman Lee McCulloch.The former Toronto star was abject as his side were steamrollered by Joe Ledley and Beram Kayal at the home of their biggest rivals.Edu confessed: "We were bitterly disappointed with the result last Sunday. No one was more disappointed than me and the players in the dressing room."We have to look forward. That Celtic game is behind us now and we have to get some positive results and get back to the top of the league.Advertisement"This is a different competition, but the fans will be delighted we are still involved. Our supporters have been fantastic for us the whole season home and away and I'm sure they will go home pleased."Hopefully at home we can put on some better performances and get better results."After a night of nerve-shredding drama, Gers squeezed through to the last 16 of the Europa League.Dutch giants PSV lie in wait after a 5-3 aggregate win over Lille.Edu reckons Gers have nothing to fear in Eindhoven.The American powerhouse added: "We believe in ourselves and welcome that challenge."We know it's going to be difficult, but we are up for it and will try to get a performance out of the tie."The second goal Sporting got was weird the way it came about and we were not expecting that."We showed a lot of desire and determination to keep fighting."We showed that we still want to be right in this competition and found a way to keep ourselves in it."Diouf - with his first goal for the SPL champions - had headed Walter Smith's side into a first half lead.Ex-Ibrox star Pedro Mendes levelled for Lisbon before Yannick Djalo's header seemed to have put the tie beyond Rangers.Then Edu struck although Diouf missed all the drama.He said: "When the fourth official held up the board to signal the amount of injury time I went up the tunnel."I didn't even see our second goal because I was inside having a massage and a rub down."We all knew that we just had to keep going."I knew we were going to have some chances to get the goal."In my head I knew there was something still to come."I am so happy for the team because it is not easy after a derby game when you lose and have to come back from a big disappointment at the weekend."Rangers looked down and out in the Jose Alvalade Stadium last night but Smith's men dug deep to keep their Euro dream alive.Asked if he thought Gers were dead and buried at 2-1, Diouf insisted: "No, I never thought that."You always hope you are going to go and get something, that's why we play in this competition."This proves we have a good team and a good spirit as well."Diouf was delighted to net his first goal for Gers.His header rounded off a wonderful move and gave Smith's men the belief that had been badly lacking at Celtic Park last Sunday.Diouf added: "That's my first Rangers goal and I definitely think it can be the first of many."I am here to help my team and to try and help this club to win things."Of course, I'm happy with my first goal - but the best thing was we saw the reaction of the team after the Celtic game. It was a great reaction."The best thing is that we are in the next round."Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3432584/We-owed-you-that.html#ixzz1EvRGiArg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesyboy93 2 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 We will never stop believing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmclean 5 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Last 32 still a long way to go Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fog 289 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Last 32 still a long way to go16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesyboy93 2 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Last 32 still a long way to goIts good to be there though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GersAvA92 53 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Good team spirit from the lads tonight. I thought we were dead, out of the game but again I've been proved wrong. Bring on PSV! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplythebest 11,453 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Still a lot more making up to do, but tonight can be considered a good start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEE 4,880 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 He was down the tunnel and still thought we had a chance...not likely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertN 398 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Glad to see we have found a never say die attitude must admit had my doubts when there second went in Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
H72 265 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Aye, alright El-Hadji. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escobar 13,676 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 :marv: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 941 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 A pity we never showed this attitude against Celtic, but you can put it on every week being realistic.Sporting were there for the taking though and we made that harder than it had to be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WadeWilson 4,670 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I am less than delighted by the comments and actions attributed to Diouf, if indeed they are the truth.He should know that we keep on going until the fat referee blows... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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