RANGERS have work to do if they are to reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals following a 1-0 defeat away to SC Braga this evening.
Abel Ruiz’ first-half goal was the difference tonight, meaning Gers have a deficit to overturn should they wish to progress.
Manager Gio van Bronckhorst named three changes tonight - in came Glen Kamara, Scott Arfield and Fashion Jr to take the places of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe.
That meant it was a back five of Allan McGregor in goal with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey in front of him.
Kamara joined John Lundstram and Ryan Jack in the middle of the park, while up front, Arfield and Ryan Kent played in support of Fashion Jr.
After both teams took turns of trying to suss each other out, Gers fashioned the first opportunity on five minutes. A long clearing header from Balogun found Arfield on the edge of the box, and with his back to goal, he hooked a beautiful ball into the area for Kent.
Goalkeeper Matheus came to smother the winger’s attempt, and the loose ball dropped for Fashion Jr whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.
From there, it was a case of ‘you attack, we attack’, and the next big chance arrived for the home side on 21 minutes. Rangers switched off at the back, and the ball eventually reached Ricardo Horta 12-yards out from goal to strike one off the inside of McGregor’s left-hand upright.
There was then a further moment of drama just a minute later – again Gers were loose at the back, and Andre Horta appeared to have put the home side ahead. However, after a VAR check, the referee team correctly identified a clear foul on Jack in the build-up.
Jack then created a decent opening for Fashion Jr at the other end. Stepping forward from midfield, he played at the striker in to step inside Vitor Tormena, but from a tight angle he could only fire his effort over the bar from just inside the area.
But then with five minutes to go until the interval, the home side did indeed take the lead. Leon Balogun didn’t get enough on a clearance as a ball came across the 18-yard line, and it dropped for Abel Ruiz to smash past McGregor for 1-0.
Into the second half, and while Braga probably had the bulk of the play territorially, Gers had a half-chance with Arfield seeing a decent volley from the edge of the area well blocked by the home defence.
A triple sub on 62 minutes saw Borna Barisic, Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe replace Balogun, Jack and Fashion Jr.
McGregor held on well to a Rodrigo Gomes effort on 67 minutes while Roofe sent one over on the end of an Arfield ball.
The Rangers number one then made a fine save from a vicious Andre Horta drive that came at him from distance, while the home side did well to see off a couple of late set-piece efforts from the visitors.
So it’s back then to Ibrox, and what a night that is in prospect as the Light Blues attempt to turn the tie back in the favour.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun (Barisic, 62), Bassey, Jack (Aribo, 62), Lundstram, Kamara, Arfield, Kent, Fashion Jr (Roofe, 62)
SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, McCrorie, Davis, Ramsey, Sands, Amad, Wright.
SC BRAGA: Matheus, Couto, Tormena, Murati, Ruiz (Oliveira 75), A Horta (Castro, 82), Carmo, R Horta, Medeiros (Fale 75), Gomes, Fabiano.
SUBS NOT USED: Sa, Hornicek, Leite, Oliveira, Mineiro, Buta, Moura, Couto, Rodrigues,.
REFEREE: Davide Massa (ITA)
ATTENDANCE: 20,331