Match ends, Sporting Braga 0, Rangers 1.
Rangers backed up last week's stunning comeback by producing a poised performance to dump Braga out of the Europa League and reach the last 16.
Ryan Kent's calm, breakaway finish coupled with a strong defensive display means the Ibrox side are in the last 16 in European competition for the first time since 2011.
It might have been more comfortable had Ianis Hagi not had a first-half penalty saved and Scott Arfield's late attempt from close range not been correctly ruled out for offside.
But few would have given Steven Gerrard's side a hope of progressing against the Europa League's top scorers, having been 2-0 down after an hour of the home leg.
Kent's strike, though, ensured a 4-2 aggregate victory and means Rangers can look forward with excitement to Friday's draw at 12:00 GMT in Nyon.
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Master counter-attackers solve defensive woes
Rangers should have been out of sight by the interval but had to wait until an hour in before grabbing the goal that ultimately assured their progress.
They had been defending progressively deeper as Braga began to exert pressure, but Hagi's ball over the top released Kent to race through and fire low past Matheus, in off the far post. It was a counter-attacking masterclass and no more than Rangers deserved, having spurned three glorious first-half chances.
Braga's high defensive line was ripe to be exploited and Rangers picked a hole in it early on. Kent threaded through for Arfield, who bore down on goal before slipping a pass to Florian Kamberi. The striker looked tentative as he struck it and Matheus was able to beat the shot away.
Kent then had an equally gilt-edged opportunity to put Rangers ahead but he dragged his shot wide of the far post from Hagi's pull-back.
Braga were enjoying plenty of possession, particularly in the wide areas, and that looked their most likely route to goal. Twice Nuno Sequeira delivered from the left and twice Paulinho went close - the first header tipped over the bar by Allan McGregor.
But then came Rangers' biggest chance as Raul Silva was penalised for handling Kent's corner - a decision verified by VAR. Hagi, the hero of the first leg, struck the penalty firmly but Matheus threw up his left arm as he dived to his right and kept his team level on the night.
The huge travelling support may have feared those misses would come back to haunt them but Kent's strike settled them.
Rangers' defensive frailties have been exposed domestically this year but they showed a determination and organisation here that have deserted them of late.
Paulinho had one more header, this time off the outside of McGregor's left-hand post, but Rangers held firm to take their place in the last 16.
Man of the match - George Edmundson (Rangers)
Put into the centre of the Rangers defence in place of the beleaguered Nikola Katic, Edmundson was a colossus as he repaid his manager's faith in him.
The entire back four was solid and the midfield trio of Ryan Jack, Steven Davis and Arfield did a power of closing-down to suffocate Braga's creative forces.
But Edmundson's commanding presence alongside Connor Goldson was the bedrock upon which the victory was built.
Line-ups
Sporting Braga
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Lima Magalhães
- 36Viana Willemen Da Silva
- 92CarmoBooked at 47minsSubstituted forRuizat 64'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 34Melo da SilvaSubstituted fordo Nascimento Galenoat 53'minutes
- 47de Sousa EsgaioBooked at 89mins
- 27Rodrigues Barbosa
- 60João PalhinhaSubstituted forBarradas Novaisat 45'minutes
- 5Cruz Jerónimo Sequeira
- 77Machado Trincão
- 21Ricardo Horta
- 20Dias Fernandes
Substitutes
- 3Tormena de Farias
- 9Ruiz
- 12Sá
- 15Luz Horta
- 17Barradas Novais
- 18Fonte
- 90do Nascimento Galeno
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 4Edmundson
- 31Barisic
- 8Jack
- 10Davis
- 37Arfield
- 7HagiSubstituted forAriboat 72'minutes
- 28KamberiBooked at 73minsSubstituted forOjoat 78'minutes
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 11Ojo
- 13Foderingham
- 16Halliday
- 17Aribo
- 18Kamara
- 19Katic
- 24Stewart
- Referee:
- Andreas Ekberg
- Attendance:
- 18,113
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away5
- Corners
- Home12
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sporting Braga 0, Rangers 1.
Post update
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Scott Arfield.
Booking
Abel Ruiz (Sporting Braga) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
Post update
Offside, Rangers. Ryan Jack tries a through ball, but Joe Aribo is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Matheus.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sheyi Ojo (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Arfield.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Novais (Sporting Braga) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Wenderson Galeno with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by James Tavernier.
Booking
Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting Braga) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting Braga).
Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. João Novais (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Ryan Kent.
Post update
Offside, Rangers. Scott Arfield tries a through ball, but Sheyi Ojo is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Novais (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Ryan Kent.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paulinho (Sporting Braga) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by João Novais with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Trincão (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick on the right wing.