ON a night where it was hard to know where to begin, it is perhaps best to start at an ending. The domestic campaign is now over for Rangers.

At the venue where their Premiership ambitions have suffered twice, their Scottish Cup dreams were killed off. Hearts have their own league issues to battle, but they also have a date at Hampden to look forward to now.

It was 90-minutes of controversy and drama and the recriminations will surely follow but the only point that really mattered was that Olly Bozanic netted the decisive goal of this thrilling quarter-final.

Just days after their Europa League heroics in Braga, Rangers saw their last silverware hopes ended. They will be glad to see the back of Tynecastle this term and time will tell how many of Steven Gerrard’s side have the chance to come back again next season.

With large swathes of maroon seats empty around Tynecastle, the atmosphere here wasn’t intimidating as it could have been as Rangers arrived for the third time this season. On a freezing night in Gorgie, there was still a crackle in the crisp air once this one really got going, though.

The first half would end in bizarre scenes as the tie was sparked into life. The fuse had been lit in the stands and on the park as referee Steven McLean found himself at the centre of controversy once again and, somehow, the tie was still level at the break.

There had been plenty to talk about before a ball was kicked after Gerrard revealed pre-match that Alfredo Morelos was absent from the squad for disciplinary reasons. The striker was late back from a sanctioned trip to Colombia during the week and was left out as Greg Stewart replaced the cup-tied Florian Kamberi in attack.

It was a chance the striker had waited some time for, but opportunities were hard to come by during the first period. When Ryan Kent sent him clear, he chose to twist and turn rather than shoot at the opening was quickly gone.

That moment, and an effort from Ryan Jack that was just wide of target, was all that Rangers could muster. They once again found the going tough at Tynecastle as Jack, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield – injured and replaced after half an hour – struggled to assert themselves.

The Jambos recovered from the loss of John Souttar – the defender forced off with what looked like an Achilles injury early on – to establish themselves in the encounter. Allan McGregor saved at his near post from Lewis Moore and tipped a Steven Naismith header over the bar.

McLean had no interest in penalty appeals from Kent when he was blocked in the area but Jack was booked for a 50/50 with Michael Smith. The referee hadn’t endeared himself to either side and his moment of madness came just before his final blow of the whistle.

A handball from George Edmundson that would have given Hearts a penalty was missed and, from the following corner, Loic Damour diverted the ball into the net by using both hands. As Hearts celebrated, Rangers protested and it appeared that a goal had wrongly been given.

It only became clear that it hadn’t when McGregor restarted play from the six yard box, but confusion still reigned. Damour wasn’t given a second booking for his volleyball move and Gerrard looked less than impressed as McLean headed up the tunnel while the respective crowds turned the decibel levels up a few notches.

Calm was never restored. When Bozanic put Hearts ahead, the home crowd had the goal they felt they deserved and Rangers once again shot themselves in the foot.

Moore collected a weak header from James Tavernier and kept his cool as McGregor came from his line into nowhere. In the middle, Bozanic was waiting to convert into the empty net.

Rangers once again found themselves under huge pressure at Tynecastle. Ianis Hagi was introduced in place of Jack and Jermain Defoe took over from Stewart either side of a Kent effort that keeper Zdenek Zlamal saved at his near post.

The situation became increasingly desperate for Rangers with every minute that elapsed. Their domestic season, their chances of silverware, were ticking away as Hearts held firm and looked to inflict the final blow.

Naismith should have delivered it with 14 minutes to go but he poked the ball wide of the post after reacting quickly to a mistake from Edmundson. Rangers were ragged and rattled.

Edmundson twice headed over from promising positions and the Gers became increasingly frantic as Hearts, to their credit, still stood firm. Zlamal’s goal remained intact but the keeper was targeted by objects from the away support.

Tynecastle found its voice once again for the final stages. A cup tie that had lived up to the barnstorming, headline-grabbing predictions had come to an end.

So, too, has Rangers’ season. Gerrard will once again be left empty-handed and the highs of the Europa League can’t mask the huge lows of another unsuccessful campaign.