Fiorentina have cruelly missed out on the UEFA Cup Final after they were beaten on penalties by a negative Rangers side.

Rangers were criticised for taking a negative approach in the first leg, which finished 0-0, but manager Walter Smith had promised a different attitude in Tuscany.

That didn't happen, but Smith's men managed to kill the game and triumphed from 12 yards.

There was a frenzied atmosphere at a sold-out Stadio Artemio Franchi as the Viola tried to reach the UEFA Cup Final for the first time in 18 years.

Both Coaches made few changes from the sides that started the Scottish leg with Cesare Prandelli opting for Marco Donadel in place of Zdravko Kuzmanovic in midfield.

David Weir passed a late fitness test for the visitors and Smith's only changes saw captain Barry Ferguson brought in to replace Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson come in for Christian Dailly.

Fiorentina dominated the early stages but solid defending from Carlos Cuellar and Weir prevented them getting any sight of goal.

Riccardo Montolivo had the first shot of the game after 19 minutes but his effort was a routine catch for Neil Alexander.

The Gigliati threatened after 24 minutes when Alexander flapped at Massimo Gobbi's cross after the former Cagliari man had stolen in behind the defence, but Steven Davis headed clear.

Thomson was booked for clipping Mario Santana's heels as the Argentine started to threaten and he was nearly on hand to convert after a delicious one-two between Fabio Liverani and Montolivo opened up the defence.

Jean-Claude Darcheville was crowded out in the Fiorentina box, but the hosts had the lion's share of first-half possession and Giampaolo Pazzini started to pose a threat with his incisive movement.

Donadel picked up a knock when he clashed with Thomson and had to come off just before the break to be replaced by Kuzmanovic.

The first half ended with little to talk about and the frustration growing for the Viola as they battered against a brick wall.

The second period started as the first finished and Pazzini's header flashed wide after Adrian Mutu had lofted the perfect ball for him in the box.

The pressure on Rangers was intense as the Italians camped in their half, but there were precious few chances in the first hour.

Tomas Ujfalusi blasted on the turn from the edge of the box, but his rocket fizzed over the bar as Prandelli looked increasingly restless on the sideline.

Mutu's free-kick with 20 minutes remaining forced a diving save from Alexander who couldn't hold it first time but was awarded a free-kick when Pazzini tried to steal the loose ball.

Fiorentina were getting the better of the refereeing decisions and Weir and substitute Daniel Cousin picked up harsh bookings.

Rangers looked uncomfortable in possession and often chose to play the ball backwards rather than go in search of a winner, but Davis had their first chance when the ball broke to him in the box. However, his effort only forced a routine save from Sebastien Frey.

Pazzini was taken off for Christian Vieri after 78 minutes and is still without a European goal.

Vieri's first touch was a fluffed attempt from barely six yards after the ball broke to him via Liverani and Alessandro Gamberini. It was hard to see how the veteran didn't find the target.

With time running out, Mutu broke down the wing at pace and fed Vieri, but he found Row Z with a lamentable effort.

And Rangers nearly stole it when Frey was called upon to parry Whittaker's curling strike.

In the dying seconds a long-range Liverani strike was deflected for a corner, but once again there was no way past the 11 Rangers players in the box.

The last action of regulation time saw Cuellar take out Mutu on the edge of the area but inexplicably nothing was given.

After 90 minutes of almost incessant presure, there was still no breakthrough and extra-time was needed.

Vieri started the extra period by firing narrowly wide early on and also headed close to the target minutes later.

Cousin's delected shot nearly looped in and Rangers looked more threatening but there were still no goals after 195 minutes of play.

Mutu's acrobatic volley was deflected over to start the second half of extra-time.

Rangers were reduced to 10 men when Cousin, who was already on a booking, lightly head-butted Liverani and was dismissed with 10 minutes left.

Still the Glaswegians resisted the Viola's attacks and nearly grabbed a goal when the ball bobbled around in the box and Frey clawed it away when it was goal-bound.

Vieri again fired over with a half-volley in the last minute and Vieri delayed too long in the box.

It went to the lottery of spot-kicks, leaving Fiorentina shaking their heads wondering how they didn't secure a Final place from the 210 minutes.

Frey saved the first kick from Ferguson, while Kuzmanovic just beat Alexander to give Fiorentina the advantage.

Whittaker converted down the middle, but Montolivo held his nerve to score with a short run-up for 2-1.

Sasa Papac's weak penalty went in after Frey dived early and Alexander made a great save from Liverani to level at 2-2.

Brahim Hemdani scored and the pressure was on Fiorentina and Vieri, who ballooned to cap a terrible evening for the veteran.

And Nacho Novo stepped up to end Fiorentina's European adventure.

Fiorentina will be left to rue their missed chances as Rangers' gameplan worked to perfection. It was rough justice, but the Scots will face Zenit in the Final.

Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Gobbi; Liverani, Donadel (Kuzmanovic 41), Montolivo; Santana (Semioli 94), Pazzini (Vieri 78), Mutu

Rangers: Alexander; Broadfoot, Weir, Cuellar, Papac; Novo, Hemdani, Thomson, Davis (Novo 81), Ferguson; Darcheville (Cousin 64)

Sent Off: Cousin 110 (R)

Ref: De Bleeckere (Bel)