Perhaps we shouldn’t really have been surprised. It was a Thursday night under the lights after all. And this is what Rangers do.
But, even so, what went on inside a bouncing, breathless Ibrox last night almost defied belief as Giovanni van Bronckhorst ’s European specialists produced a performance of such raw power and eye popping panache that they may even have caught themselves by surprise.
And yet, despite battering the life out of Braga for 82 minutes, they sent anxiety levels soaring with the concession of a late goal which not only threatened to destroy the night of their lives but forced their own fans into the torture chamber of extra time.
It took a total of 100 minutes until Kemar Roofe provided the fairy-tale finish. The man who was brought in to fill the shooting boots of Alfredo Morelos had the ball in Braga’s net twice only to have them both chopped off by a video assistant.
But his dramatic late winner now carries an entire club into the last four of the Europa League and onto the shoulder of history. Van Bronckhorst had no shortage of options but still managed to come up with a selection which few others would have seen coming.
It was at the back where he was throwing his dice, breaking up the partnership between Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun to shoehorn both Calvin Bassey and Borna Barisic into the same defence.
Bassey took on a central role with Barisic reinstated at left-back but, with his side already one goal down from the first leg and with so much at stake, it was a ballsy gamble nonetheless.
On such whims, reputations can be forged or shattered. But with a feeling of uncertainty around van Bronckhorst’s credentials, this was a punt of monumental proportions.
‘Make Us Dream’ demanded the massive banner unfurled before kick-off across the Broomloan Road stand. And, quite astonishingly, after just 70 seconds van Bronckhorst and his players had delivered in typically spectacular style.
But even by their usual standards, this was breathtaking stuff as Barisic thundered upfield before sending his first cross of the night into the box.
Joe Aribo flicked out a leg to hook the ball with the toe of his boot and Tavernier piled in at the back post to slide an immaculate finish home from an improbable angle.
And in that instant, a familiar, magnificent madness took hold. It became bedlam when Bassey and Barisic combined for Roofe to head in what seemed a stunning second until VAR spotted the ball brushing the Croatian’s fingers moments before he whipped in another cross. A full scale volcanic eruption was nipped in the bud. But only for a while.
This was as comprehensive a beating as any side has suffered on Glasgow’s south side. And yet Braga managed to cling on for dear life even though their senses were being scrambled by the intensity of the onslaught. Roofe came within a lick of paint of getting his goal in 31 minutes when he smashed the ball off the underside of the bar from close range after Tavernier’s corner.
Moments later the exact same set piece ended with the striker only just failing to connect in front of an open goal at the back post.
With Braga now in bits, Roofe let fly from distance but dragged his shot wide before Ryan Kent had a header saved by the wide eyed Matheus. But the second did arrive before half time and almost brought the house down.
Bassey’s superb, raking pass over the top had Braga’s defence in all kinds of bother. Roofe sensed their panic and muscled his way into the box but just as he was about to take aim Vitor Tormena was spooked into barging the striker down from behind.
He was red-carded and Tavernier did the rest from the spot, drilling it straight down the middle to spark scenes of manic joy. The interval arrived like an unwanted distraction. But not even it could knock Rangers out of their stride. From kick-off they were back pounding on Braga’s back door and Aribo very nearly caved it in but his shot fizzed wide of the target when he ought to have teed up Kent for an even more inviting chance.
Kent, who was just about unplayable, created the next chance with a dip of the shoulder and a cross which was just an inch or two too high for Aaron Ramsey to reach, six yards from goal.
In 64 minutes, Barisic did plant one onto Ramsey’s forehead but this time his diving effort cannoned over.
Roofe then thought he had wrapped it all up when he raced onto a glancing flick from Aribo to craft a lobbed finish over Matheus. But once again the man with the remote control stepped in to rob Roofe of his moment, having framed him an inch or two offside.
Ramsey then bundled one home at the back post only for Matheus to collapse in a crumpled heap and the foul was correctly awarded. The more this went on without the comfort of a third goal, the more the nagging doubts crept in at what might happen in the unlikely event a chance did finally arrive at the other end.
And, in 82 minutes, we found out. One corner was all it took and a thumping header from David Carmo flew beyond Allan McGregor.
There was almost another in the dying seconds when Goldson hit a header inches wide. But this one was always destined to go the distance.
Suddenly the unconfined euphoria had seeped away into the night, replaced by a stomach churning nervousness. But then, with 100 minutes on the clock, came Roofe’s crowning moment.
It was supplied by a combination between sub Glen Kamara and Aribo and when Roofe was picked out just a yard from goal he made no mistake. Braga’s trip to hell was complete when Luri Medeiros talked himself into a red to leave his side down to nine. But this night belonged to Rangers.
