Rangers are into the UEFA Champions League group stages for the first time since 2010 after an impressive 1-0 away win over PSV Eindhoven.
A 2-2 draw from the first leg left the game perfectly poised and Antonio Colak's 60th minute tap-in proved decisive that ensures Rangers join rivals Celtic in Thursday's Champions League draw.
PSV had 58 per cent possession and created 16 shots to Rangers' 14 but it was Colak's easy effort on the hour mark that settled the tie in Eindhoven this evening in a night that will live long in the memory for those travelling Gers supporters.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's desire to have his team pressing high up the pitch paid off when Malik Tillman robbed defender Andre Ramalho of the ball in the box after goalkeeper Walter Benitez had played him a difficult pass. Tillman kept his composure to pass sideways to Colak who was unmarked and couldn't miss.
Who was Rangers' best player against PSV?
It was an impressive, gritty team performance away from home but Tillman was the engine behind Rangers' crucial win.
He looked dangerous right from the off and comfortable on the ball in tight areas. The young American wasn't afraid to run at PSV's backline and his high energy was exactly the sort of attacking mentality Van Bronckhorst would have asked for pre-match.
He got his rewards by being the player to force PSV into the mistake for the goal and unselfishly opted to square the ball to his teammate to net the winner.
No Morelos, no problem
Van Bronckhorst's decision to leave Alfredo Morelos at home was a big one. If Rangers hadn't have qualified tonight the call could have blown up in his face, but now it will hopefully just become background noise at the club.
The club's all-time leading goalscorer in Europe didn't travel with his side with van Bronckhorst claiming he wasn't ready. Morelos hasn't started a match this season and didn't help his cause when he came off the bench at the weekend only to be red-carded 13 minutes later.
"I know he wants to play, but to play for Rangers, you need to have a certain level mentally, physically - and, at the moment, he's not ready to play," said Van Bronckhorst before the match.
However, Colak more than held his own up top and was a constant threat throughout. He's bagged five goals in all competitions so far this season and is a big reason for their progression to the group stages having also scored in the first leg at Ibrox. Morelos is a fan favourite, not least for the way he plays, but also for the important goals he's scored over the years.
Colak has only been at Rangers a few months having joined from PAOK in the summer but if he carries on scoring big goals at the rate he is already he'll soon be on his way to hero status among the Ibrox faithful.
Rangers' Champions League draw potential opponents
The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw will take place on August 25 at 18:00 local time in Istanbul, Turkey (17:00 BST).
Rangers will be in Pot 4 for the draw, along with rivals Celtic, and fans can now look forward to some glamour ties against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, AC Milan, PSG and even a chance to get revenge against last season's Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Based on UEFA's co-efficient ranking system here are the best and worse case scenarios for Rangers.
Best-case scenario: Ajax, RB Leipzig, Sporting Lisbon, Rangers.
Worst-case scenario: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Rangers.
Here's all you need to know about Thursday's Champions League draw.
The Sporting News was following the match live and providing live score updates and commentary below.
PSV vs. Rangers result
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| PSV | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rangers | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Final aggregate score: PSV 2-3 Rangers
Goals: RAN — ANTONIO COLAK (Malik Tillman) — 60th min.
PSV vs. Rangers live updates, highlights from Champions League playoff second leg
FULL-TIME: PSV 0-1 RANGERS (Rangers win 3-2 on aggregate)
Rangers have done it! Colak's 60th minute tap-in is enough to book the Scottish side's place in tomorrow's Champions League group stage draw for the first time in 12 years. What a brilliant away performance!
90th min +4: Simons picks up a yellow for a cynical foul on Kent and the Rangers midfielder is furious.
90th min +2: Backs-to-the wall defending from Rangers as Goldson heads clear from a cross. Colak is replaced by Fashion Sakala.
90th min: Four additional minutes added on. Obispo gets forward and the ball falls to him in the box but he leans back and fires his shot well over. Could that be their last chance?
89th min: Rangers are managing this game brilliantly. Winning fouls, kicking the ball out for throw-ins. They're nearly there.
87th min: The crowd are urging PSV on to get forward but they can't get it into Rangers' half with the Scottish side putting them under pressure. Van Ginkel is booked minutes after coming on for a late challenge on Sands.
84th min: Armando Obispo goes into the book for hacking down Wright on the right wing when he was almost through on goal. Marco van Ginkel is subbed on for Max for the home side.
79th min: The frustration from the PSV fans is loud and clear as their team concede possession several times in the middle of the pitch. They also aren't too pleased with McLaughlin taking his time with any kick he gets. Rangers are in no rush though and are a little over 10 minutes from the Champions League group stages.
76th min: Simons is the most lively player for PSV right now and everything is going through him. Saibari is replaced by Carlos Vinicius.
74th min: Lawrence and Kamara are off for Scott Wright and Scott Arfield as Rangers look for some fresh legs.
72nd min: Simons gets down the right wing and crosses to the back post where Philipp Max is arriving at the back post but his volley is dragged wide. Barisic gets a booking.
69th min: Mwene gets a yellow card for a late tackle on Kent. He's only been on a few minutes.
68th min: Go for the second by the looks of it! Tillman has a great effort from the edge of the box but his left-footed shot is saved as Benitez has to get down quickly to his left.
66th min: Kent goes into the referee's book for a late tackle on Sangare. The resulting free-kick is cleared. Will we see Rangers shut up shop now or will they go for a second to kill the game?
62nd min: Double change for PSV as Guus Til and Phillipp Mwene come on for Ramalho and Gutierrez.
60th min: GOAL! PSV 0-1 Rangers
Colak taps home from inside six yards. Tillman robs Ramalho of the ball in the box after goalkeeper Benitez had passed him the ball and Tillman keeps his composure to pass sideways to Colak who is unmarked and can't miss.
58th min: Kent dispossesses Gutierrez in a dangerous position in the final third and plays in Colak but his shot his well blocked. Rangers are building some momentum as we approach the hour mark.
56th min: Lawrence rattles the bar! Brilliant footwork on the edge of the left side of the box sees him find an inch of space and he curls one that looks destined for the top right corner but it strikes the woodwork. SO close!
52nd min: A golden chance goes begging as Erick Gutierrez misses a free header from inside the box that should be in the back of the net. Luckily for him he was well offside anyway.
48th min: Simons already looks lively down the right going forward. He has just been penalised for a foul on Kent though.
46th min: One change for PSV, Xavi Simons has come on for De Jong. The forward must have suffered an injury late on in the first half for Ruud van Nistelrooy to make that change.
We're underway!
HALF-TIME: PSV 0-0 RANGERS
44th min: The chances keep coming. This time Akpo is played down the middle but McLaughlin comes out and he's forced to chip it over the goalkeeper and it goes just over.
43rd min: Tete puts in enough peach of a cross to find De Jong in the middle and this time he does connect but it's straight at McLaughlin from close range.
41st min: Saibari turns Borna Barisic inside out on the right wing and cuts inside but his goal-bound shot is deflected behind.
39th min: Another big chance! This time Ibrahim Sangare has a free header unmarked at the back post from a corner but it's just over. Rangers living dangerously.
37th min: Huge chance! De Jong is inches away from connecting with Jordan Teze's cross that was whipped in from the right flank but he can't stretch enough and Rangers escape.
35th min: A big 50/50 tackle in the middle of the park sees Saibari comes off worse as James Sands clatters him and just about wins the ball.
33rd min: PSV get their first corner of the match but McLaughlin punches clear. Akpo gets a chance on the edge of the box moments later but his curled effort is well wide and heads closer to the corner flag than the goal!
30th min: Gakpo goes down on the edge of the box following a coming together with Tavernier but the referee tells him to get up. No free-kick.
28th min: First yellow card of the match goes to André Ramalho who absolutely crunches Kent on the left touchline, going right through the back of him. No complaints there.
26th min: Malik Tillman gets in space down the left wing inside the box and pulls it back to John Lundstram but his first-time effort goes wide of the post. He puts his hands on his head... he knows he should have buried that.
23rd min: Akpo plays a neat one-two with Joey Veerman but the midfielder's lofted ball over the top is punched clear by McLaughlin.
21st min: A fourth Rangers corner is cleared at the near post.
20th min: Connor Goldson goes down holding his face after jumping for a header with De Jong who catches him but there's nothing malicious in it and the defender is soon up and running.
18th min: Rangers win another corner but PSV have everyone back and the Scottish side can't find a way past. Some good pressure from Rangers though.
17th min: Brilliant play from Kent to whip in a dangerous ball to find Antonio Colak but the final touch from his header comes off a PSV defender and it's a corner. PSV clear.
15th min: Ryan Kent has been quiet so far but he gets a shot on target from the edge of the box that's easily saved.
13th min: Now PSV look dangerous around the box but Saibari gets his feet in a muddle and Luuk de Jong ends up accidentally taking it off him. Rangers clear.
10th min: Rangers come forward but a few sloppy passes around the edge of the box sees them concede possession. It's probably not helping them that the home fans are jeering every missed-place pass either.
7th min: Ismael Saibari bursts down the right flank and puts a dangerous cross into the box but James Tavernier clears. PSV have started the brighter.
4th min: Cody Akpo finds a bit of space on the edge of the box and manages to get his shot a way but it doesn't have enough power to trouble Jon McLaughlin. He's the danger man Rangers have to be wary of tonight.
1st min: Rangers have a corner but Tom Lawrence's set-piece goes straight into Walter Benitez's hands.
We're underway!
5 mins from kickoff: Here come the teams... a few nervy faces on both sets of players as they walk out the tunnel.
10 mins from kickoff: Van Bronckhorst has just revealed the Rangers team bus had trouble getting to the stadium with fans outside the ground delaying their arrival. He described the scenes as some of the "worst he's ever seen as a player and manager." Rangers asked for kickoff to be delayed to allow them more time to warmup but this request was rejected. Let's hope that doesn't unsettle his side.
20 mins from kickoff: Remember, the winner of tonight's match will go into tomorrow's group stage draw of the Champions League. Celtic are already in there. The loser will drop into the Europa League with the draw for that set for Friday.
That's a lot at stake for one game of football.
45 mins from kickoff: If you're wondering where striker Alfredo Morelos is tonight then we'll allow Van Bronckhorst to explain.
The Colombian is Rangers' all-time top scorer in Europe but the manager has made the bold decision to leave him out of tonight's squad.
Morelos hasn't started a match this season and didn't help his cause when he came off the bench at the weekend only to be red-card 13 minutes later.
"I know he wants to play, but to play for Rangers, you need to have a certain level mentally, physically - and, at the moment, he's not ready to play," said Van Bronckhorst.
65 mins from kickoff: And here's how the visitors line up. Van Bronckhorst has made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Hibs on the weekend with Glen Kamara and Malik Tillman taking the places of Ryan Jack and Rabbi Matondo.
75 mins from kickoff: PSV have gone early with their starting XI. Ruud van Nistelrooy's side is unchanged from the one that started at Ibrox.
90 mins from kickoff: So, we're all level heading into tonight's match following last week's 2-2 draw at Ibrox.
Armando Obispo snatched a draw for PSV in the first leg of their Champions League playoff showdown with Rangers — and spared the blushes of his goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Benitez botched a routine 70th-minute save, letting Tom Lawrence’s free-kick slip from his grasp and squirm over the line to put Rangers 2-1 ahead.
The lead only lasted for eight minutes as centre-back Obsipo headed home from Cody Gakpo’s corner, with a delivery from the reported Manchester United target having also led to Ibrahim Sangare’s first-half opener.
Rangers were swiftly on terms in the 40th minute when Antonio Colak clipped in a smart finish from James Tavenier's first-time cross, crowning a beautiful team move.
For a full run-down of what happened click here.
120 mins from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of tonight's HUGE Champions League qualifier. It's a big night for Rangers and Scottish football... can they end a decade-long wait for a return to the Champions League? We'll be finding out soon enough!
PSV vs. Rangers lineups
PSV starting XI (4-3-3): Benitez (GK) — Teze, Ramalho, Obispo, Max — Sangare, Veerman, Gutierrez — Saibari, De Jong, Gakpo.
Subs: Drommel, Waterman, Hoever, Simons, Van Ginkel, Til, Branthwaite, Carlos Vinicius, Luckassen, Bakayoko, Savio, Mwene.
Rangers starting XI (4-2-3-1): McLaughlin (GK) — Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic — Kamara, Lundstram — Tillman, Lawrence, Kent — Colak.
Subs: McGregor, McCrorie, Ridvan, King, Devine, Davis, Jack, Arfield, Wright, Matondo, Fashion Jr, Ure.
MORE: Which teams are in the 2022/23 Champions League?
What time is PSV vs. Rangers?
PSV host Rangers at Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, Netherlands. It kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Wednesday, August 24.
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Wednesday, August 24 | Wednesday, August 24 | Wednesday, August 24 | Thursday, August 25 |
| Time | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 05:00 AET |
How to watch PSV vs. Rangers
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| TV channel | BT Sport 1 | — | — | — |
| Streaming | BT Sport | Paramount+ | DAZN | Stan Sport |
UK: Subscription channel BT Sport will show the match in the UK. BT is the exclusive rights holder for the Champions League and Europa League in the country. Viewers can stream matches on the BT Sport website and app.
USA: Champions League matches are carried by CBS Sports in the USA, but not all qualifiers are broadcast. This match is available via the Paramount+ streaming service and app.
Canada: Champions League matches are carried by DAZN in Canada.
Australia: Champions League matches are carried by Stan Sport in Australia.