Dejected Dominik Holec admitted he couldn't believe Rangers veteran No.1 Allan McGregor broke Sparta Prague hearts.
The man who turns 40 in January made an incredible double save at the end to maintain Rangers' two-goal lead against the Czechs, which guaranteed qualification into the next stage of the Europa League.
His performance was praised by new Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst as he celebrated a win in his first game in charge of Rangers.
And Sparta's Slovakian keeper Holec - who was a shock choice to play after spending most of the season as back-up - accepted his opposite number's heroics killed Sparta.
He said: "The Rangers goalkeeper kept them in it with some incredible saves. We had no luck at all, but you have to credit him.
"The ball was going into the net at the end of the match and it was especially difficult to save it with the wet surface too.
"We played pretty well. Of course, we made a terrible mistake for the second goal, but mistakes happen in football. I'm certainly not going to criticise Filip Panak for that goal. We are all teammates together.
"We lost, but we have to recognise the quality of Rangers. They are a good side.
"Now we need to return to business in the league and move up the table."
