RANGERS reached the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 3-1 win over Braga at Ibrox.
The Gers went 2-0 up through Jamies Tavernier but 10-man Braga pulled one back with just minutes to go in normal time.
Kemar Roofe scored the vital goal in extra-time to send the Portuguese side, who then went down to nine men, crashing out of the competition.
- RESULT: Rangers 3-1 Braga
- Rangers XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Aribo, Ramsey, Kent, Roofe
- Braga XI: Matheus, Carmo, Tormena, Oliveira, Fabiano, Horta, Castro, Al Musrati, Ruiz, Horta, Ruiz, Gomes
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That’s all from Ibrox
It’s the end of another enthralling, exhausting and memorable European night in Glasgow – and it won’t be the last this season.
Rangers have overcome Braga in the Europa League to reach the semi-finals, and will now face RB Leipzig in the last four.
The first leg will take place in Germany in two weeks’ time, and you won’t miss a kick with us here at SunSport.
Until then, thanks for joining us and goodnight.
Gio so proud of Gers
A delighted Giovani van Bronckhorst believes his team gave everything – in a game that had everything.
The Rangers boss admitted that his players had to dig deep to overcome disappointment at times, but kept believing to eventually prevail.
It’s a big night and a big result for us. It was a game that was up and down, ten men, nine men, goals disallowed, VAR, penalties, red cards. It was quite hectic but at the end of the day we are through to the semis.
I’m very proud. To reach the last four in Europe is a major achievement for everyone. We worked so hard for it.
Giovani van Bronckhorst
Tav pays tribute to team
Rangers captain James Tavernier said that he and his exhausted teammates should be incredibly proud of their achievements after his two goals helped the Scottish champions into the last four of the Europa League.
I’m tired, but it’s a special night for the lads, the club and the fans. You could see how much it meant to everyone at the final whistle. The players in the dressing room should be proud of themselves for taking the club to a European semi-final.
James Tavernier
xG-eepers! Rangers attack from the off
Carlos Carvalhal said there were huge expectations on Rangers this evening, and it translated to their attempts on goal.
In fact, the expected goals total that the Gers clocked up (5.8) was greater than any side in any European game this season.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Match stats from Ibrox
It’s been an eventful, exhausting night in Glasgow.
Rangers didn’t have much of a sniff in the first leg in Portugal, but more than made up for it this evening with 31 attempts on goal.
Full time – Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
It’s all over! Rangers have made hard work of it, but the Scottish champions are in the Europa League semi-finals.
The Glasgow side finally got the job done in extra-time against the eventual nine men of Braga, and will now face RB Leipzig of Germany in the final four.
Rangers had threatened to blow their Portuguese opponents away in a blistering first half during which they overturned a first leg deficit through two James Tavernier goals – the second from the penalty spot.
In the decision to award the hosts a spotkick, Braga were also reduced to ten men, leaving the visitors with a huge uphill task in the second half.
But Braga fought back, and shocked Ibrox with a late David Carmo head to send the tie towards an extra half hour.
However, the hosts regained their composure to finally see off Carlos Carvalhal’s team, who lost their cool – and any chance of another comeback – when substitute Iuri Medeiros was dismissed for two needless yellow cards moments later.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
120. Carvalhal and Van Bronckhorst embrace on the touchline.
That would indicate that the Braga boss believes this game is over.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
118. Rangers are playing keep ball against the nine men. It’s the sensible thing to do.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
115. Defender David Carmo has stayed up front and Braga are preparing to go long.
Finally, Carlos Carvalhal’s years of experience in the English Football League come to the fore.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
113. Braga go for broke and throw everything that they have left – which isn’t much – at the home defence.
Horta goes down in the box, and the visitors – more in hope than expectation – appeal for a penalty.
The Braga bench again protest, but there’s no chance of a spotkick being awarded here.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
111. Scott Wright is again unmarked in the middle, and again ignored by a teammate – this time Sakala – who shoots wide.
I’m not sure what Wright has done to upset the rest of the Rangers squad. Is he a secret Celtic fan?
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
110. What an astonishing miss from Scott Arfield!
Sakala’s shot across goal is deflected towards the line by a defender, and, although Matheus manages an acrobatic stop to keep it out, the ball finds kindly for Arfield.
All alone and five yards out, the Rangers substitute gets underneath the rebound, somehow looping it on to the top of the crossbar.
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
108. A chance to guarantee progression.
Substitute Sakala slips Kent in on the left, who has two unmarked teammates in the centre.
The winger overlooks the better-placed Wright in the centre to pull back to Arfield at the near post, and the result is a scuffed shot wide.
Extra-time 2nd period – Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
106. There are just quarter of an hour and the nine men of Braga between Rangers and a European semi-final.
It’s impossible to blow it from here. They couldn’t even if they wanted to.
Extra-time half-time – Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
105. An absolute moment of madness from Iuri Medeiros!
The Braga substitute is cautioned for crashing into Leon Balogun on the far touchline as the defender went to clear up the pitch.
Booking or no booking, the midfielder’s reaction is absurd as he goes face-to-face with the referee, pointing in his face.
It leaves Francois Letexier with no decision other than to produce an immediate second yellow card and then the red.
There goes any slim hope Braga had of another dramatic recovery.
Iuri Medeiros is sent off! Braga are down to nine men!
Rangers 3-1 Braga (agg: 3-2)
101. Rangers lead the tie once again! And Kemar Roofe has got his goal!
It’s a brilliantly worked move, sparked by Glen Kamara on the right, and centred low into the six-yard box by Joe Aribo for Roofe to convert.
Whether the forward should even be on the pitch is another matter, but Rangers fans will not care one jot about that!
Goal! Kemar Roofe nets for Rangers!
Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-2)
99. The visiting players have done really well to take the sting out of this game in extra-time.
Rangers need fresh impetus.
Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-2)
97. Some Braga players want a yellow card for Aribo’s foul on the goalkeeper, but it certainly didn’t warrant one.
The appeals lead to another of their bench being cautioned by the match officials.
Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-2)
96. Matheus will certainly require the ice bath once this game concludes.
The goalkeeper is writhing in agony once again after being caught by Aribo.
Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-2)
94. You could not hear yourself think inside Ibrox earlier this evening. You can almost hear a pin drop now.
Students of psychology will be writing theses of this night for years to come.
Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-2)
92. Close to a nightmare start to extra-time for Rangers.
Kemar Roofe, already on a booking, goes over the ball and catches Castro on the thigh with his studs.
It’s a clear yellow card offence, but luckily for the Rangers forward, referee Francois Letexier allows it to go unpunished.
Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal is not so fortunate. He’s shown a yellow card for his protests from the bench.
Extra-time kick-off – Rangers 2-1 Braga (agg: 2-1)
91. Strap in for another half hour.
Three of the four Europa League semi-finalists are known: Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham and RB Leipzig. Who will be the fourth?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
