On a night of incredible drama and passion under the Ibrox lights, first-half goals from James Tavernier and Glen Kamara had the stadium bouncing but Christopher Nkunku pulled one pack in the 71st minute to pull the aggregate score back to 2-2.
With just 10 minutes left, however, John Lundstram scored a goal which will be remembered forever, just like Nacho’s in Fiorentina back in 2008.
At the final whistle fans, players and the Rangers management celebrated a truly remarkable victory, with many believing Rangers were underdogs to progress pre-match.
Once again, however, they showed grit, determination and courage to pull off one of the biggest results in our club’s 150-year history. Quite simply, what a night!
Prior to kick-off Ibrox fell silent to observe a moment of silence for legendary kitman Jimmy Bell who passed away on Tuesday – and what a proud man he would have been this evening.
After being able to hear a pin drop, the stadium erupted into the cauldron of noise it is famous for as Portuguese referee Artur Diaz got the action underway.
With Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright back in the starting eleven after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Parkhead, the Light Blues started confidently and with just seven minutes on the clock Wright played a teasing low delivery into the box from the right but there were no takers and the ball was booted clear to Jack.
The midfielder took a touch and tried his luck from 20 yards but Leipzig keeper and captain Peter Gulacsi got down well to his left to make the save. The visitors, however, were also showing an early threat in the last third, with Willi Orban heading a couple of feet wide of goal from a whipped corner kick in front of the Copland Stand.
On 15 minutes Konrad Laimer then spun away cleverly from Jack in the centre circle and burst forward with real intent.
He fed the ball to Yussuf Poulsen in the right channel but Jack, making his 150th competitive appearance for the Gers, was there to make a terrific recovery tackle which blocked the Danish striker’s effort on goal.
Four minutes later and Rangers got the opener – and it had to be that man Tavernier who found the net.
Ryan Kent sprinted away on the left wing and his low shot-cross was met by the Gers skipper at the back post and he slotted it home with great aplomb to send Ibrox into ecstasy.
It was a dream start for the Light Blues and on 24 minutes, remarkably, it was to get even better when Kamara showed great composure to curl and beautiful left-foot into the far bottom corner of the net to make it 2-0 on the night.
Incredibly, it could and should have been three before the half-hour mark. Borna Barisic’s deep delivery from the left was headed back across goal by Tavernier but Joe Aribo, agonisingly, couldn’t get a good connection on the ball six yards out.
It was remarkable stuff from van Bronckhorst’s men on the biggest of occasions, but with only a single goal separating the sides there was no time for complacency against a team sitting fifth in the Bundesliga and with undoubted talent.
Before half-time a free-kick awarded against Barisic was taken by Angelino, Leipzig’s scorer in the first leg, and Aribo in the wall bravely took the full force to his head and fell to the turf.
Thankfully, he got back to his feet but clearly dazed he was helped off the pitch and was replaced by Fashion Sakala.
The next forty-five were quite simply massive for both clubs, with Rangers 2-1 up on aggregate and in a strong position.
And seven minutes in the first chance of the second half fell to the home side. Kamara’s in-swinging cross was met by Sakala and although his glancing header had fans off their seats, it failed to trouble Leipzig’s number one Gulacsi.
Before the hour mark van Bronckhorst made two more substitutions, at a time when the visitors pushing more men forward and getting a bit of joy. Scott Arfield replaced Ryan Jack and Balogun went on for Wright.
Arfield had an immediate impact, twirling away from two defenders at the Main Stand corner flag before he edged his way into the box. His cross, however, went safely into the hands of the goalkeeper with Sakala lurking.
With 20 minutes left, however, Leipzig pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 to Rangers on the night but 2-2 on aggregate, and it was highly-rated Christopher Nkunku that finished past Allan McGregor with his first real chance of the game.
Angelino’s excellent delivery from the left was perfect for the French forward who opened his body and guided an impressive volley high into the net.
Rangers were now the team that had to lift themselves and after a period of Leipzig pressure van Bronckhorst’s men were back in front with just 10 minutes to go.
Ryan Kent’s cross somehow fell to John Lundstram and with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen he stroked the ball into the net to start utter bedlam in the four Ibrox stands. The Light Blues then held on until the final whistle to celebrate a victory for the history books.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Lundstram, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack (Balogun 59), Kamara, Wright (Arfield 59), Kent, Aribo (Sakala 45)
SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, McCrorie, King, Davis, Ramsey, Sands, Lowry, Diallo
GOALS: Tavernier 19, Kamara 24, Lundstram 81
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