Rangers’ Europa League rivals Braga bounced back from their Europa League disappointment against the Ibrox side with a late winner against Maritimo.
The Portuguese club was unceremoniously dumped from the European competition by a resilient Rangers who eventually won the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
The two matches were Braga’s first defeats under coach new coach Ruben Amorim who continued his fine domestic run with the 2-1 win over Maritimo.
Paulinha scored a winner in the 8th minute of injury time at the end of the game to secure the morale-boosting victory for the Iberian side.
New £29m Barcelona signing Francisco Trincao opened the scoring early for the Primeira Liga outfit, who now side third in the Portuguese top tier.
But Jorge Correa would equalise against Rangers’ Europa League found of 32 rivals midway through the second half before Paulinha’s late winner.
Incredibly, Maritimo’s Edgar Costa would see red in the 11th minute of injury time with the frustration of the 14th placed side clearly showing.
It would’ve been a much-needed tonic for Braga following the Europa League humbling by Rangers.
The Ibrox club were underdogs in the tie and Braga showed their class to race into a 2-0 lead at Ibrox.
But buoyed by the brilliance of Ianis Hagi, Rangers dragged their way back into the game to eventually win the first leg 3-2.
Steven Gerrard’s side would then put in a stunning, tactically disciplined performance to defeat the Portuguese side 1-0 in the Braga Municipal Stadium.
