Ibrox men display their attacking skills and defensive errors in equal measure Gattuso's quick-fire start as Rangers ease through

They were brilliant at times in attack, and appalling at times in defence.

Fortunately, it was the attack mode that prevailed and the Ibrox side went into the second round of the Uefa Cup with a comfortable 5-3 aggregate win.

That is impressive enough in any European tie, but when they took the lead in just 20 seconds through Rino Gattuso it seemed certain that they would have a pleasant stroll into today's draw.

When Sergio Porrini then did his Italian bit, too, and put Rangers two up, and 3-1 ahead on aggregate, the stage was set for a big score.

However, the Scottish side went into reverse, stopped playing, and Istvan Salloi scored for Beitar, taking them to within a goal of a draw and what would have been a place in the next round on the away goals rule.

It could then have become a serious sweat for the 45,610 on site but, after Jonaton Johansson scored the third goal, the worries were erased. Rod Wallace added No.4 before Eli Ohana, a late substitute for the Jerusalem side, scored from the penalty spot to make the final tally 4-2.

However, the job was done and, in this European business, that is what matters. The watching Celtic manager, Dr Jozef Venglos, would say amen to that.

Beitar must have wished they had been allowed to start all over again after the nightmare opening that left them dispirited for a long spell. It is debatable if any of their players had touched the ball before they were trailing.

They were beaten by a goal constructed magnificently and finished with equal class.

Lorenzo Amoruso started it all with a glorious long crossfield pass to Jorg Albertz. He squared it into the middle, where Barry Ferguson sent through a perfectly judged pass to Giovanni van Bronckhorst on the left.

When his low cross came over, the sliding Johansson could not quite reach it but Gattuso, chasing in from the right, fairly smacked it first-time high into the net.

If that was an opening, Barry Ferguson would have to agree that the chance given in 15 minutes was as good as it gets.

Albertz put him clean through the heart of the Israeli defence and left him only the outrushing keeper to beat. Barry's shot, however, hit the goalie's foot and bounced up on to the bar and over for a corner.

Next up was Sergio Porrini, whose shot from the right hit the keeper's knees and bounded off to safety.

Istvan Salloi, recalled to the Israeli side after resolving a row with the coach, was the first to get exasperated and paid the penalty with a yellow card after downing Vidmar.

However, the second goal was about to be delivered. Rangers forced a corner down the left, which was taken by van Bronckhorst, and there was Porrini, unmarked at the near post, to head out of the keeper's reach.

Now it seemed to be party time for the troops in the stands. But they had to put the streamers back in storage as Beitar, who had scarcely been involved as an attacking force, took advantage of some slack defensive work. Shitrit broke clear and his cut-back was sent into the net by Salloi.

When Sandor hit a good chance wide of the far post, it became clear that there was some work needing to be done before the tie was completely secure.

Sandor emphasised that with a sizzling 25-yard shot that had Lionel Charbonnier stretching into the air to touch it over the bar.

Ferguson cheered the crowd with a superb piece of play early in the second half when he beat two men before he was halted by a solid tackle from Shelah.

Next minute there he was back in his own penalty area heading the ball back to his keeper. Charbonnier took a knock and needed treatment when he came out to clutch a high ball from the head of Shitrit, but he recovered.

There was great relief as well as joy for him and the crowd in 61 minutes when Johansson scored the goal that put them two clear on aggregate.

Ferguson sent Vidmar off on the left and the Australian did really well to travel all the way to the touchline before sending over a cross that Johansson sidefooted past the keeper.

Four minutes later and the celebrations could begin, officially. Albertz played the most exquisite ball through the centre from his own half to put Johansson clean through.

He sidestepped the goalie, who brought him down, but the Russian referee sensibly let play go on and that allowed Wallace to finish the job.

Sandor hit the bar with a header, but Ohana was to have his moment in 80 minutes when he converted a penalty after Amoruso had knocked over Shitrit inside the area.

RANGERS - Charbonnier, Porrini, Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar, Gattuso, Ferguson, van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Wallace, Johansson. Substitutes - Niemi, Petric, Stensaas, Graham, Miller, Rozental, Hendry.

BEITAR - Korenfein, Levy, Shelah, Dery, Talesnikov, Abukasis, Mizrahi, Salloi, Hamar, Sandor, Shitrit. Substitutes - Grif, Ohana, Raychman, Serhii, Yaccobi.

Referee - S Khussainov (Russia).