Kent fires Rangers to Europa League last 16

Rangers booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League after a fine 1-0 win against Braga in Portugal, completing a 4-2 victory on aggregate.

The Scottish Premiership club had not won any of their previous 15 European away games, but Ryan Kent’s second-half strike (61) ensured they ended that wait in style in northern Portugal.

Rangers arrived at the Estádio Municipal de Braga protecting a slender 3-2 advantage from the first leg, and they were denied the lead on the night in first-half stoppage time when Matheus Magalhaes saved Ianis Hagi’s penalty.

But Hagi atoned from his miss to set up Kent for a composed finish having breached Braga’s high line as Rangers booked their place in Friday’s draw for the last 16.

How Rangers rocked in a hard place

Rangers arrived in Portugal aware of the size of their task. The 3-2 loss at Ibrox last Thursday was Braga’s first European defeat this season after previously winning eight and drawing two of their Europa League matches this term.

Indeed, no other side in the competition had scored more than their 17 goals, but in front of the 4,500 travelling supporters, George Edmundson and Connor Goldson produced virtuoso displays to keep the hosts at bay.

Within 10 minutes, Steven Gerrard’s side had carved the Braga defence open as Scott Arfield beat the high offside trap before setting up Florian Kamberi to his left but his shot was easily saved by Matheus.

Nuno Sequeira was proving Braga’s most dangerous outlet through his deliveries at set-pieces and in open play, with Paulinho meeting one such wicked cross only to head wide of Allan McGregor’s post before Kent dragged a shot wide on the break following good work by Hagi.

Paulinho was then denied by McGregor following another pinpoint cross from Sequeira, but Rangers were offered a brilliant chance to extend their lead on aggregate when Raul Silva handled inside the box from Kent’s corner.

Hagi, who was the hero with his two goals in the first leg, stepped up confidently but saw his spot-kick well saved by Matheus to hand the hosts a boost just before the interval.

The setback did not affect Rangers, however, as Kent missed the first good chance following the restart from Kamberi’s cutback, but five minutes later the former Liverpool winger made no mistake.

Goldson anticipated the pass into the feet of Paulinho to regain possession before Ryan Jack and Hagi combined for the latter to play a brilliant pass seeking Kent, who sped away from the Braga defence to dispatch his low shot to the left of Matheus and into the far corner.

Braga looked shell-shocked as assistant manager Manuel Sequeira withdrew two defenders in search of a route back into the tie, and one of the substitutes, Joao Novais, very nearly halved the deficit when his header from Trincao’s cross brushed the foot of the post.

But that was the closest Braga came to a response, and Rangers were denied a second when Connor Goldson’s header was tipped onto the post, before Scott Arfield tapped home from an offside position.

When Novais headed over from another Trincao cross in stoppage time, the celebrations for Rangers and their supporters began, safe in the knowledge they had booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in nine years.

‘Unbelievable achievement for Rangers and Scottish football’

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd

“The Rangers back four were absolutely outstanding. You’d have expected Braga to have got one or two chances, but there was nothing that you would say troubled Allan McGregor too much.

“Braga have won nine of their last 11 now, with both those defeats coming against Rangers. They’ve beaten Sporting twice and also Benfica in that run, so this is an unbelievable achievement for Rangers and for Scottish football.

“It’s going to help the coefficient with potentially two teams back in the Champions League in two years’ time.”

Man of the match – Connor Goldson

Gerrard dropped a surprise an hour before kick-off as he benched Nikola Katic following his Perth horror show against St Johnstone.

Edmundson took his place but there was no repeat of Sunday’s sloppiness as he and Goldson stood firmer than the massive rock looming over one end of the pitch.

Braga began with Paulinho as the focal point of their attacks, and later they would introduce Joao Novais and Abel Ruiz, but whatever they threw at the Rangers defence, Goldson had the answers. Rangers refused to budge.

What’s next?

Rangers return to domestic action at the weekend, visiting Hearts in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Saturday; kick-off is at 5.30pm.

The draw for the last 16 of the Europa League takes place on Friday, February 28 in Nyon, with proceedings set to start at 12pm, UK time. You can follow it on Sky Sports News and with our live blog on the Sky Sports website and app.

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