Rangers went on the attack with three quick chances in a matter of moments. Lagerbielke blocked one effort, Gassama forced a save from Hornicek, and Raskin’s header went over the bar.
The sequence earned a corner, which sparked a furious reaction from Ricardo Horta, earning him a yellow card.
The Dutch referee’s decision to send off Zalazar for a headbutt on Raskin was hard to dispute.
The Uruguayan’s action was completely unnecessary. While the exact level of contact is debatable, he clearly moved his head forward with intent, and VAR confirmed the red card after reviewing the incident.
The dismissal gives Rangers a major advantage and could be their best chance yet to secure their first three points in the Europa League.
VAR Check Confirms Red Card
A free-kick was awarded after a push at the corner, and following the VAR review, the referee upheld the decision: Zalazar is sent off on his 100th appearance for Braga.
The situation leaves Braga down to ten men and a goal behind. Slow-motion footage shows Zalazar clashing with Nico Raskin; though contact appears limited, the head-forward movement made the red card inevitable.
Leave a Reply