Lorenzo Amoruso scored a rare goal to steer Rangers into the semi-finals of the Tennents Scottish Cup.

The Italian skipper grabbed the winner with 25 minutes to go to kill off the brave First Division side.

David Moss had pulled Falkirk level after Neil McCann had opened the scoring. It was Rangers' eighth straight victory and they are still on course for a domestic treble.

But this was least convincing display for weeks with Falkirk refusing to let them settle. Rangers had the majority of possession in the first half but couldn't find a way past keeper Paul Mathers, who was superb in the opening 45 minutes.

The home fans were becoming increasingly irritated at their team's inability to make the breakthrough and the players looked suprisingly edgy.

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat stuck by the team that defeated Kilmarnock 5-0 last week. Stephane Guivarc'h kept his place in the front line alongside Rod Wallace with Jonatan Johansson and Gabriel Amato on the bench.

Falkirk, semi-finalists last season, made one change to the side that defeated Stranraer in the First Division last week, with Moss replacing Gareth Hutchison. The visitors carved out the first opening after winning a corner on the left. Scott Crabbe swung the ball in and keeper Stefan Klos punched clear. It fell into the path of David Sinclair but his effort cleared the bar.

Rangers burst into life in the 15th minute and Mathers did well to push away a shot from Wallace after it had taken a wicked deflection. Falkirk central defender Kevin James then scrambled the ball away after McCann had played it in, following a flowing move involving Tony Vidmar and Wallace.

Mathers got his body behind a shot from Guivarc'h in the 33rd minute after Barry Ferguson had played a pass through the middle.

The Falkirk keeper was being forced to work overtime and made another marvellous blockfrom Guivarc'h 10 minutes before half-time after a fine cross from Andrei Kanchelskis.

It was almost the last act from the French striker as he pulled up five minutes into the second half and was replaced by Johansson.

Falkirk were growing in confidence and David Moss came close with a header in the 51st minute from a Kevin McAllister cross.

But Rangers made the breakthrough a minute later from a set-piece. McCann was able to find space in a crowded area to nod in a corner from Giovanni van Bronckhorst. It looked like the beginning of the end for Falkirk but they retaliated in the 56th minute with Crabbe rattling a post.

Jorg Albertz then thumped the woodwork for Rangers as the tempo of the game increased dramtically. Moss stunned the home support in the 59th minute with a clinical finish after keeper Klos had beaten away a shot from Marino Keith.

Johansson should have put Rangers in front after Jamie McQuilken had lost possession but he steered his shot wide of the post.

Amoruso had only scored once before this season against Alloa in the League Cup. But he strode forward 25 minutes before the end to unleash a low 30-yard shot that deceived keeper Mathers and went into the corner.

It was cruel luck on Falkirk, who had toiled so manfully, but they can be proud of their performance in front of a nationwide TV audience and nearly 40,000 fans.

Teams:

Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Vidmar (Amato 66), Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Guivarc'h (Johansson 50), Wallace, McCann (Wilson 85).Goals: McCann 52, Amoruso 75.

Falkirk: Mathers, Corrigan, McQuilken, Sinclair, James, Den Bieman, McAllister, Keith, Crabbe, Moss, McKenzie.

Subs Not Used: McCart, Seaton, Hutchison.

Booked: James.

Goals: Moss 59.

Att: 39,250

Ref: J Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy).