Ibrox Stadium Thursday 14th April 2022, destiny awaits us all, a European semi final awaits us all. Braga have the lead and Braga have all the momentum. But football is strange because even with everything that has gone wrong so far this month, two goal victory will change everything and our own destiny.
Rangers can do this tonight. We are a good side and we are more than capable but we will need everything and everyone pulling in the right direction. Sunday’s victory gave us a little bit of confidence and a little bit of hope, even gave us a little bit of a reminder that we aren’t a bad side.
It has been negative lately but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been honest and hasn’t been deserved. I don’t know everything and I’ll be the first to admit to over reaction to the best and worst of us but what must always happen is that this club has to come first. More of that later and more of that in the summer as we reflect on this season.
This season can still be a gigantic one though and tonight we have to go for it. I don’t think we were close to being near our best in Portugal last week and I think Braga might have been in spells so this is interesting if we can peak. They aren’t a bad side and are capable of hitting us but so are we.
This is the chance for this club to create the destiny that 55 deserved. This team deserves this moment, they deserve a legacy and tonight they have to create it. European semi-finals don’t come around that often.
Here’s the team that has that opportunity.
Rangers Team: McGregor, Tavernier, Bassey, Goldson, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Aribo, Kent, Ramsey, Roofe
Good luck to the Rangers….
First half action –
1 min – GOOOAAALLLLL! It’s Tavernier and what a start! Rangers get it to Borna and his cross is flicked on by Aribo for Tavernier who slides in for 1-0 Rangers!
5 mins – GOOOAAAALLLLL! Borna down the left and what a cross to Roofe who bullets home! This is unreal!
VAR CHECK HAS DISALLOWED IT! Barisic handball in the build up, that’s so unlucky.
15 mins – Roofe at near post pokes one wide after good build up from Ramsey and Tavernier.
19 mins – Ramsey shoots over after he worked the throw in with Tavernier well.
23 mins – CHANCE! Ramsey is robbed and Rocardo Horta fires over wastefully.
31 mins – BAR! Tavernier cross for Aribo and Roofe at back post hits the bar! What a chance for 2-0!
36 mins – CHANCE! Same again as Aribo flicks it on from front post and it goes all the way across goal! What a chance!
43 mins – PENALTY TO RANGERS!!!
Long ball from Bassey, what a pass that was, and Roofe controls before he is barged in the back to the ground. Crazy from the Braga Centre back!
📕IT’S RED FOR TORMENA! Braga are down to 10!
GOOOOAAAALLLLLL! TAVERNIER MAKES IT 2-0!!
DREAMLAND IN THE UEFA ONCE MORE!
Half Time – Rangers 2 Braga 0
Rangers have been wonderful and Ibrox is bouncing, well done lads, well done!
Second half action –
50 mins – CHANCE! Aribo one two releases him but he bends it wide.
63 mins – POST! Goldson rattles the outside of the post from a Tavernier free kick after good work from Lundstram.
65 mins – CHANCE! Ramsey flying header from another superb Borna cross is over!
70 mins – GOAL DISALLOWED! Roofe through and finishes brilliantly but VAR confirms he is offside.
78 mins – SUBS Jack and Ramsey off. Wright and Kamara ON
83 mins – GOAL! Braga score from a corner, I think it’s Goldson who loses his man and Carmo heads home. 2-1 and all square on aggregate. Criminal goal to lose.
Now it’s game on.
5 mins added but it finishes with a Goldson header flashing over.
FULL TIME – Rangers 2 Braga 1 . (AGG 2-2)
Game goes to Extra Time.
Extra time first half –
11 mins – GOOOOAAAALLLLL! Roofe is on fire! Brilliant football by Kamara to get down the right, his pass to Aribo who cuts across for Roofe to tap home! RANGERS LEAD 3-1!
14 mins – 📕 BRAGA DOWN TO NINE! Second yellow for Medeiros.
HT Rangers 3 Braga 1
HT Subs – Fashion and Arfield on, Roofe and Aribo off
Extra time Second half –
18 mins – SITTER! Rangers break and Arfield misses a guilt edge chance as Kent rolls it back. Could have tied it up there.
20 mins – SITTER AGAIN! Arfield with a tap in fires against bar and over, that was worse than the last one. Unbelievable.
Rangers keeping ball as they should against nine men, but a few loose moments that Arfield could have avoided!
FULL TIME! Rangers have done it!
RANGERS 3 BRAGA 1
WE ARE THROUGH!
Full time summary –
What a game! We made it hard for ourselves but worthy of it and blast our way into a major European semi final!
Unbelievable achievement for this club and I’ve said about creating legacies and becoming legends, now they have their opportunity.
Came out firing and the captain was inspired, scoring twice but Kemar Roofe at the heart of everything and between them they inspired Rangers.
A wonderful moment for this club and a very special one for everyone.
There’s more to be said but I don’t know how to put it! Semi-Finals here we come!
This one’s for you Duncan, we will love and miss you 💙💔
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Four Lads Had A Dream 