The home side's performance was far from convincing at times but goals from David Weir and Lee McCulloch secured a crucial victory, despite Alan Hutton's red card midway through the second half.

The draw for the third round qualifier - which also includes Scottish champions Celtic - takes place on Friday and the pressure is on Rangers to ensure they make it that far in the competition.

The club's debt has soared from $14million to $41million as a direct result of missing out on the Champions League last year, meaning Gers head into next week's second leg knowing there is no room for error.

Walter Smith named the same starting 11 which faced Ajax and Chelsea in last week's friendlies, including captain Barry Ferguson - whose 65th appearance in European competition saw him overtake John Greig's record.

There were no away fans at Ibrox to witness this first leg and the Zeta players found themselves under siege early on.

Rangers should have been ahead with just seven seconds on the clock. Barry Ferguson's pass from the kick-off found McCulloch, who released Kris Boyd through the middle into the box.

The striker raced past two Zeta defenders before teeing up the shot to nestle in the bottom corner but could only look on in disbelief when his left-footed effort cracked off the outside of the post.

Boyd then attempted to help a 25-yard Charlie Adam strike into the back of the net but guided the effort a couple of yards wide.

It looked as though it was shaping up to be a busy night for Zeta goalkeeper Sasa Ivanovic, who smothered a Darcheville shot, before stretching to tip an Adam header over the bar.

Darcheville had another go with a point-blank shot, which was spilled by the goalkeeper but there were no takers from Rangers and Ivanovic recovered his composure to smother before McCulloch raced into the box.

But Zeta could have grabbed a shock opener before the break when Zarko Korac was hauled down on the edge of the box by Carlos Cuellar. Darko Markovic's free-kick whistled inches wide as McGregor remained motionless on his line.

Bojan Ivanovic sent a right-footed shot fizzing across the face of goal and past the post, with the half-time whistle surely coming as more of a relief to Rangers.

A less-than-inspiring display from Adam in the opening 45 minutes cost him his place for the second half.

He was replaced by Nacho Novo at the break, the Spaniard slotting into the right of midfield and McCulloch shifting to the left.

Shortly after the restart Boyd again squandered a gilt-edged opportunity in front of goal.

Ivanovic failed to hold a thunderous Ferguson drive and Boyd somehow managed to blast over from the rebound when it looked so much easier to hit the target.

The breakthrough came in fortunate circumstances for Rangers with 54 minutes gone.

A Zeta clearance fell to the feet of Weir 25 yards out, who lobbed the ball back into the box.

Darcheville and Ivanovic clashed on the line in their attempts to get to the ball, both missed, and Weir's effort trickled into the back of the net.

The home side were reduced to 10 men with half an hour left to play when Hutton picked up two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds, the second for encroaching at a free-kick.

Rangers had no option but to respond to the red card and Boyd was the player sacrificed, with Kirk Broadfoot coming off the bench to fill the void left by Hutton at right-back.

Despite numbers now being in Zeta's favour, Rangers found the back of the net again after 72 minutes.

Ferguson's free-kick was met by the head of McCulloch at the back post, who nodded into the net from close range as Novo successfully held off a Zeta defender.