Rangers 3-1 Braga (3-2 agg a.e.t) (Tavernier 2′, 44′ pen, Roofe 101’ | Carmo 83′)
Kemar Roofe tapped in an extra-time winner as Rangers overcame a stubborn Braga to reach their first European semi-final since 2008.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were frustrated after 90 minutes after blowing a 2-1 aggregate lead late on, with Braga forcing extra time at Ibrox through a late David Carmo header.
However, Roofe converted Joe Aribo’s cross 10 minutes into the additional half-hour to put the blue half of Glasgow into dreamland.
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Defeat at home to Celtic 12 days ago has left the Hoops six points ahead at the top of the Premiership with five matches left and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side followed that defeat with a narrow defeat in last week’s first leg.
Rangers player ratings
- McGregor 7
- Tavernier 8
- Goldson 8
- Bassey 7
- Barisic 8 (Balogun 6)
- Jack 8 (Kamara 6)
- Lundstram 7
- Ramsey 7
- Wright 6
- Aribo 7
- Kent 8
- Roofe 8
They failed to register a single shot on target in northern Portugal last week but found their shooting boots straight from kick-off at Ibrox, levelling the score within 70 seconds.
Borna Barisic swung in a cross from the left that Joe Aribo hooked up over the Braga defence. The ball appeared to be harmlessly rolling out for a goal kick but Tavernier had other ideas – sliding in to send the ball past Matheus from the angle and level the scores.
An already-rocking Ibrox increased the volume yet further within two minutes as Roofe added a second from another Barisic cross, only for the former Leeds man’s effort to be ruled out for a slight handball from Barisic before he crossed.
Roofe poked wide on 15 minutes as Braga stood shellshocked in the Glasgow gale and went even closer as he hammered the underside of the bar from yards out on the half hour.
For all Rangers’ dominance, the score was still level on aggregate as half-time approached, before the hosts finally earned reward for their start.
Roofe and Vitor Tormena raced on to a long ball, the forward cutting across the Braga defender as they entered the area before inducing a slight push. Red card for Tormena and a penalty for Rangers – spot-kick specialist Tavernier duly dispatched his 14th of the season.
The 30-year-old scored three of the six that shocked Borussia Dortmund in the knockout round play-off and was also on target against Red Star Belgrade in the last 16.
The second half began with Rangers again pressing hard, Aribo and John Lundstram going close as Ryan Kent and Aaron Ramsey impressed.
Roofe had a cute lob ruled out for offside and Ramsey bundled into the net but only after fouling Matheus.
Rangers paid for their inability to settle proceedings, Carmo powering in a header with seven minutes left to force extra time.
Roofe was in the right place at the right time six minutes into extra time, meeting a Joe Aribo cross inside the six-yard area to tap in the winner.
Iuri Medeiros was then sent off for a second bookable offence just before half-time in extra time, while Rangers closed out the tie to book a semi-final meeting with RB Leipzig.
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