Sporting Braga 0-1 Rangers (2-4 agg): Gerrard's side reach Europa League last 16
- Published
Rangers last reached the last 16 of European competition in 2011, when they qualified from the Champions League group stage
Rangers backed up last week's stunning comeback by producing a poised performance to dump Braga out of the Europa League and reach the last 16.
Ryan Kent's calm, breakaway finish coupled with a strong defensive display means the Ibrox side are in the last 16 in European competition for the first time since 2011.
It might have been more comfortable had Ianis Hagi not had a first-half penalty saved and Scott Arfield's late attempt from close range not been correctly ruled out for offside.
But few would have given Steven Gerrard's side a hope of progressing against the Europa League's top scorers, having been 2-0 down after an hour of the home leg.
Kent's strike, though, ensured a 4-2 aggregate victory and means Rangers can look forward with excitement to Friday's draw at 12:00 GMT in Nyon.
Master counter-attackers solve defensive woes
Rangers should have been out of sight by the interval but had to wait until an hour in before grabbing the goal that ultimately assured their progress.
They had been defending progressively deeper as Braga began to exert pressure, but Hagi's ball over the top released Kent to race through and fire low past Matheus, in off the far post. It was a counter-attacking masterclass and no more than Rangers deserved, having spurned three glorious first-half chances.
Braga's high defensive line was ripe to be exploited and Rangers picked a hole in it early on. Kent threaded through for Arfield, who bore down on goal before slipping a pass to Florian Kamberi. The striker looked tentative as he struck it and Matheus was able to beat the shot away.
Kent then had an equally gilt-edged opportunity to put Rangers ahead but he dragged his shot wide of the far post from Hagi's pull-back.
Braga were enjoying plenty of possession, particularly in the wide areas, and that looked their most likely route to goal. Twice Nuno Sequeira delivered from the left and twice Paulinho went close - the first header tipped over the bar by Allan McGregor.
But then came Rangers' biggest chance as Raul Silva was penalised for handling Kent's corner - a decision verified by VAR. Hagi, the hero of the first leg, struck the penalty firmly but Matheus threw up his left arm as he dived to his right and kept his team level on the night.
The huge travelling support may have feared those misses would come back to haunt them but Kent's strike settled them.
Rangers' defensive frailties have been exposed domestically this year but they showed a determination and organisation here that have deserted them of late.
Paulinho had one more header, this time off the outside of McGregor's left-hand post, but Rangers held firm to take their place in the last 16.
Man of the match - George Edmundson (Rangers)
Put into the centre of the Rangers defence in place of the beleaguered Nikola Katic, Edmundson was a colossus as he repaid his manager's faith in him.
The entire back four was solid and the midfield trio of Ryan Jack, Steven Davis and Arfield did a power of closing-down to suffocate Braga's creative forces.
But Edmundson's commanding presence alongside Connor Goldson was the bedrock upon which the victory was built.