Rangers 3 Braga 1 AET (agg: 3-2) Gers into Europa League semi-final after Roofe extra-time winner
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WHERE will the goals come from without Alfredo Morelos?
When the striker's season was confirmed as over, so was Rangers’ European chances.
But nobody told that to James Tavernier and stand-in Kemar Roofe on a dramatic night at Ibrox.
Tavernier's been the man for the big occasion in Europe this season and the skipper was on hand with a double to help fire them into the Europa League last-four.
In doing so, he's moved top of the goalscoring standings for the competition which is just remarkable.
It wasn't as easy as it probably should have been for Rangers but they eventually got the job done against a plucky Braga side.
They knew before kick-off that RB Leipzig would await the winners in the semi-final.
And the tone was set very early on at Ibrox as the home side came flying out the traps.
Braga couldn’t live with them and were all over the place.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men came into the second leg trailing by a single goal from last week.
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That goal advantage gained over 90 minutes in Portugal was wiped out after 69 SECONDS.
Questions were raised when Borna Barisic’s name was on the teamsheet but his contribution was a big one.
His cross in from the left was flicked on by Joe Aribo outside the front post and Tavernier was there to slide in and squeeze the ball home from the tightest of angles.
Ibrox was absolute bedlam. And they were louder again just three minutes later.
Barisic again involved to get the better of Fabiano before sending in a perfect cross for Kemar Roofe to head home.
It went to VAR after a potential handball by Barisic which was spotted on the pitchside monitor. Ibrox cheered again as they thought a goal was given before realising a free kick was given the other way.
It should have been two on the half hour mark. Tavernier the provider this time with a corner from the left. Aribo got across his man and flicked it to the back post where Roofe was standing three yards out and somehow hit the crossbar and it bounced away.
The exact same routine came two minutes later and this time the Jamaican forward was caught on his heels and couldn’t reach the Aribo flick.
Aaron Ramsey then found Ryan Kent with a floated cross but the winger’s header was weak and straight at the keeper.
Two minutes before half-time came the turning point of the tie. Roofe was sent clean through and got goal-side of Tormena before the Brazilian defender nudged him in the back as he lined up to shoot.
Penalty to Rangers. Red card to Braga.
Tavernier – as he has done time and time again – stroke the penalty home down the middle.
The hosts came out flying after the break and Roofe looked to be through on the keeper before a last ditch tackle stopped him.
Aribo then broke forward and had Kent in acres of room inside the box but went for goal himself and curled it wide. Wrong choice.
Connor Goldson then struck a shot off the post after another set piece routine before the flag went up.
Rangers had the ball in the net for a fourth time shortly after but again it was ruled out. Roofe getting on the end of a flick on before sending a delightful dink over the keeper before the flag went up.
Replays showed there was an inch or so in it.
Ramsey then forced the ball over the line with ten minutes left on the clock but he fouled the keeper in doing so and this one was rightly ruled out before celebrations even got underway.
Van Bronckhorst went to his bench and hooked Ryan Jack and Ramsey to see out the game.
Lundstram made his first mistake of the night giving the ball away inside his own half and Kent likewise as the visitors forced a corner.
The in swinging ball from the right found David Carmo who left Goldson on his heels and he steered a header beyond McGregor from six yards.
He had the chance to atone for that error as we ticked beyond 90+5 minutes but his late header went wide.
The atmosphere was edgy and nervy for the first ten minutes of extra time - before the roofe was well and truly raised.
Glen Kamara got in down the right hand side and slid a ball down the by-line for Aribo who flashed a ball across the six-yard box and Roofe was there again to tap the ball home.
He could easily have had three or four but none would have been met with more relief than than this one.
Their task was made easier just before half time in extra time when Iuni Medeiros was late into a tackle on Leon Balogun.
He picked up a yellow card then lost his head. Absolute stupidity from the Portuguese man to square up to the referee and point in his face.
Second yellow card for him, second red card for Braga.
If you thought Roofe's miss was bad, Scott Arfield's was one thousand times worse.
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Fashion Sakala's strike was goalbound after a deflection and the keeper did exceptionally well to keep it out, rebounding it to Arfield six yards out who hit the bar.
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But Gers saw the remainder of the game out without issue and will head back to Germany for the semi-final.
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