JEAN-CLAUDE Darcheville lamented "one of the most disappointing nights of my career" as he passed up a glorious chance to send Rangers through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
The French striker seemed certain to cancel out Sydney Govou's first-half opening goal for Olympique Lyonnais when he fastened on to Barry Ferguson's pass with 10 minutes remaining and three yards from goal but inexplicably scooped his shot off the crossbar.
It was a moment to rival the infamous Peter van Vossen sitter missed against Celtic a decade ago and would prove infinitely more costly as Lyon capitalised on the let-off to score twice more to confirm their place in the latter rounds at Rangers' expense.
The Frenchman said: "That was one of my most disappointing nights of my career. I knew this was a massive game for Rangers and I'm very disappointed.
"I'm a striker and 30 years old and I have the experience to handle the occasion. Ten minutes from time I was sure that I'd score and the game would change. I don't want to make an excuse but before the ball came to me it took a little bobble. I'm upset because I know that in the Champions League it's not usual to get five or six chances.
"I had the one chance to score and I was not able to take it. I'm not happy because before the game I felt we had a chance to reach the last 16 - now that's finished."
To compound a miserable night for Darcheville, who started the match on the bench, he was red-carded late in the tie for an alleged stamp on Kim Kallstrom, a decision he later disputed.
"I take my responsibilities seriously, but I have to say that I don't think it was a red card. I was very surprised that the referee showed me a red.
I was actually moving back up the park because I felt the referee would show me a yellow."
Steven Naismith, a half-time replacement for Daniel Cousin, was quick to absolve Darcheville from any blame. "Darch's miss would have changed everything but that's football. It was one of the chances we had but there was good bit of pressure on Darch with the defender coming in right behind him.
"Some will say it was a bad miss but we are right behind him and here we win as a team and lose as a team.
"Nobody is pointing fingers at him. He has done tremendous for us, especially at the start of the campaign and we probably wouldn't have been in this position if it wasn't for Jean-Claude."
Sasa Papac felt Lyon had simply been the better team on the night. "We did not play very well. I think Lyon was the better side tonight and deserve to go through to the last 16. It was a fair result in the end.
"Maybe there was just too much pressure on us. It was maybe the most pressure on us in a long time.
"Lyon have been playing in the Champions League for the past six years and usually qualify for the last 16."
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