Rangers 3-1 Braga (3-2 agg): Kemar Roofe extra-time winners puts Scots into semi-final

Rangers are into the Europa League semi-final after Kemar Roofe’s extra-time winner settled a pulsating tie with Braga, who finished with nine men.

Rangers were utterly dominant, hitting the woodwork twice and having three strikes disallowed, but their profligacy was punished when David Carmo’s header forced extra time.

However, a tie with Leipzig was sealed when Roofe knocked in from close range.

And as Ibrox rocked, Braga’s hopes of another comeback wilted when Iuri Medeiros was booked and sent off for dissent for arguing over a yellow card.

Rangers will travel to Germany for the first leg on 28 April, with the Ibrox return the following Thursday, and the mouthwatering games come either side of the final Old Firm derby of the season at Celtic Park.

It is Rangers’ first continental semi-final in 14 years, and a huge boost to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men before Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Premiership leaders Celtic at Hampden.

The prospect of a European final against English Premier League side West Ham remains alive, with David Moyes’ men facing Eintracht Frankfurt in the other last-four tie.

In a month where Van Bronckhorst’s side had been rocked by defeat to title rivals Celtic that left them trailing by six points, and by the first-leg loss in Portugal, they still stood on the cusp of history.

If Ibrox was loud at kick-off, just 70 second in the stadium’s foundations were shuddering as the Scottish champions roared in front.

Borna Barisic’s cross was touched on by Joe Aribo into the path of Tavernier, who broke free of the defence to slide the ball in at the back post.

Three minutes later and Rangers had the ball in the net again when Roofe met Barisic’s cross with a precise header. This time the celebrations were cut short after a VAR check harshly penalised Barisic for handball in the build-up, but it didn’t dampen Rangers’ intensity as they continued to pour forward.

Tavernier was a whisker away from getting his head on to an Aribo cross to the back post. Roofe, fresh from a weekend hat-trick, shot wide moments later.

Aaron Ramsey fired over, then another teasing ball in from Barisic was met by both Tavernier and Aribo but neither could steer it on target.

There was no let-up. As the number of corners kicks rose, a delivery landed for Roofe in front of goal but he knocked off the underside of the bar. Minutes later Aribo nudged another corner invitingly towards the back post but there were no takers, then Kent headed into the hands of goalkeeper Matheus.

The pressure was immense. And four minutes before the break Rangers were in control of the tie.

Roofe got on to a long ball and ahead of defender Tormena, who bundled into the striker’s back. The Brazilian was sent off, while Tavernier kept a cool head to send the penalty down the middle.

It was as near to perfect a 45 minutes as Rangers could get. They had turned the tie in their favour and now had a man advantage.

Another goal would finish it. Aribo sliced side when perhaps a pass to Kent was the better option. Shortly afterwards, Kent turned his marker and picked out Roofe whose header was blocked. Connor Goldson rattled the outside of a post.

Braga just couldn’t defend against Barisic’s wand of a left foot. Another cross met the head of Aaron Ramsey but he couldn’t keep his header down.

Roofe’s joy was short lived again when he broke free of the defence and chipped into the net, but was adjudged marginally offside. Ramsey would also bundle the ball into the net but be pulled up for a foul on the goalkeeper.

And, without a third goal Rangers’ lead remained fragile. And with Braga’s first real chance they levelled seven minutes from time as Carmo bulleted a header into the net from a corner.

That took the wind out of Rangers’ sails. Goldson headed wide in the final seconds of the 90, but into extra time it went.

Rangers had expended an enormous amount of energy, and they looked tired. But after having two goals disallowed, Roofe was to be the hero.

Glen Kamara picked out Aribo, who drilled the ball across goal for the striker to knock in and send the crowd into delirium.

It should have been four when Scott Arfield was teed up in the box but he fluffed his shot, then powered an effort off the crossbar when a rebound had fallen into his path.

Those misses kept the game alive. Braga’s bench screamed for a penalty when Richard Horta fell to the deck under Glen Kamara’s challenge.

In the end, though, Rangers deservedly kept their European dreams alive.

Man of the match – Joe Aribo

What did we learn?

It is the green half of Glasgow who have been more confident in the build-up to Sunday’s Scottish Cup showdown. Yet this night might just be the catalyst that has Rangers believing again.

They went for Braga early and often. Such was Rangers’ dominance that the Portuguese had not mustered a shot on target after an hour.

The Ibrox men switched off for a moment and were punished by Carmo’s goal, and it was just about the only blot on their copybook in the 120 minutes.

Heartening also for Rangers is that even without the injured Alfredo Morelos, in Roofe they have found a more than capable striker able to lead the line on the big stage.

What’s next?

Rangers face Old Firm rivals Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden (14:00 BST), and they will take on German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in the last four of the Europa League on 28 April and 5 May.

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