'Wow, it's OK now': Exhausted Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst reacts to rollercoaster night as comeback man hailed for performance

Drained Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst hailed his players after they secured a Europa League semi-final against RB Leipzig on a nerve-shredding night of Ibrox drama.

The hosts looked to be on course for a relatively untroubled evening after they scored two goals against Braga in a one-sided first half to take a 2-1 lead in the tie.

Braga had also been reduced to ten men after Vitor Tormena was red carded for the challenge on Kemar Roofe that led to Rangers’ second goal, scored from the penalty spot by James Tavernier. The skipper also put Rangers ahead with the opening goal after 74 seconds. The home side also had a goal ruled out by VAR after the ball glanced off Borna Barisic’s hand before he crossed for Kemar Roofe to head home.

But things went awry with seven minutes left when David Carmo headed in a goal for Braga to level the tie. Extra-time saw Rangers score a third decisive goal through Roofe before Braga were further depleted when substitute Luri Medeiros was sent off after late challenge on Tavernier on the touchline.

There were no further mishaps in front of the 48, 894 crowd as Rangers reached the last four of a European competition for the seventh time.

“Wow, it’s OK now!" said Van Bronckhorst afterwards. “It was a big night and big result for us.

“It was a game that was going up and down, it had it all. It was quite hectic but going through to the semis is a big night for us.

“I’m very proud reaching the last four in Europe, it’s a major achievement for everyone.

“Of course we worked hard for it. In the group stages and after that. The 1-0 loss in Braga wasn’t a bad result and we started really well.

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“We could have been 2-0