Rangers' hopes of a first European trophy in 36 years were crushed as Zenit St Petersburg claimed the UEFA Cup.
Walter Smith's men experienced an epic journey which saw them play 18 European games to reach Manchester, only for them to fall at the final hurdle at the hands of the Russian champions.
Goals from Igor Denisov and Konstantin Zyrianov proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Dick Advocaat triumphing over his former club who had hoped to claim an historic quadruple this season but must now focus on completing a domestic treble.
Despite the official allocation being far less, around 30,000 Rangers fans managed to find their way inside the City of Manchester Stadium with around 100,000 more in fan zones around the city and a packed-out beamback party taking place back at Ibrox.
But the night ended in disappointment for the Glasgow giants, just as it had done for city rivals Celtic at this stage back in 2003.
Kevin Thomson came through a late fitness test to start for Rangers after limping out of Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League win over Dundee United with an ankle injury. Steven Davis and Brahim Hemdani both joined him in midfield after being drafted into Smith's plans.
Jean-Claude Darcheville - on the scoresheet at the weekend - was given the role of lone striker in the absence of the suspended Daniel Cousin, but Nacho Novo had to settle for a place on the bench despite his double and an impressive performance against United.
Rangers were forced to soak up the pressure early on when Zenit's star man Andrei Arshavin was released through on goal, only to pull his shot wide of the upright and ripple the side-netting.
At the other end, Darcheville delivered a promising ball from the left with Barry Ferguson bearing down on goal, but the skipper was denied the opener by a timely Russian challenge.
Thomson then gave away a foolish free-kick 35 yards out. Radek Sirl took responsibility for the set-piece but Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander did well to smother after the ball had taken a wicked deflection en route to goal.
Alexander was called into action again when Hemdani lost possession just outside the box and the ball broke to Aleksandr Anyukov whose smart shot was initially fumbled and then held by the Gers keeper.
With Rangers doing little to trouble Vyacheslav Malafeev in the Zenit goal, the Russians were doing all the pressing and Zyrianov screwed wide of the near post after being set up for the shot by Roman Shirokov.
Steven Whittaker's header over the crossbar from Davis' cross failed to worry the Zenit goalkeeper before Darcheville was tripped by Denisov and Rangers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.
It was a decent chance but Thomson's effort failed to make it past a wall of white jerseys after a tense build-up to the shot.
Kirk Broadfoot then appeared to handle in the box from an Arshavin cross seconds before the half-time whistle but no penalty was forthcoming from Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and the first half ended goalless.
Rangers had a penalty shout of their own dismissed shortly after the restart. Darcheville threatened first of all at the near post and was denied by Malafeev before Ferguson claimed his rebound shot in front of goal was handled by Denisov.
Whittaker scored a superb goal