Nathan Patterson spent 10 days wrestling alone with his conscience but it took just 16 seconds at Ibrox to set him on a path to redemption.
Just 24 hours ago the teenage right-back sat remorseful and sheepish in front of club cameras to apologise for the Covid controversy some thought may end his Rangers career.
Tonight, he made the most incredible substitute's impact to help fire Steven Gerrard's side past Royal Antwerp and into the Europa League last 16.
A half-time replacement for Leon Balogun, Patterson scored the second in a 5-2 victory that provided every bit as much drama as last week's opening leg.
Alfredo Morelos, a standout on the night, Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten bagged the rest to send the Belgians packing and secure a place in Friday's draw.
Frank Vercauteren's side more than played their part in an exhilarating tie but that will provide little solace from an 9-5 aggregate beating.
Gerrard, on the other hand, will feel vindicated for including Patterson, Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu in his setup despite the wave of anger which swept their way in the wake of their Covid-breaching night on the town a fortnight ago.
The manager was open and honest about what he expected from his side and from the moment the whistle blew they set about pleasing their manager.
If Antwerp were expecting an early blitz - and they should've been - they did little to get in the way of it.
Rangers were setting early pressing traps all over the pitch and when Jérémy Pierre Gelin walked straight into one, Ryan Kent was on hand to rob him.
The winger cut back for an alert Morelos to roll the hosts into an early lead.
It was a pattern that continued throughout the early stages; Hagi stung the palms of Ortwin De Wolf from an angle before Morelos blazed high and wide on the counter.
It took a brief injury interval in aid of the latter to halt Rangers' momentum and allow Antwerp to pounce.
Jordan Lukaku powered his way down the left, skinning Leon Balogun and squaring low for Rafaelov to flick home with class at the near post.
Antwerp still needed two but they'd awoken from an early slumber to, at least, create a more even contest.
Lukaku was proving problematic for Balogun, who will miss the last 16 first leg after accumulating bookings, and the left-back again weaved his way into the area before his powerful drive was smothered only by the side netting.
Rangers continued to fight with fire but the half ended on a softer note when Morelos passed up the chance to force his way into the box and exploit Jeremy Pierre Gelin who pulled up with injury.
Instead, the striker stopped in his tracks and allowed his opponent to receive treatment and the half trickled to a conclusion.
You'd have been forgiven for thinking this tie had used up its drama budget entering its final 45 minutes but some of the best was yet to come.
Patterson's introduction was instant fireworks, with the few inside Ibrox barely given time to retake their seats before he burst in behind and restored Rangers' two-goal aggregate advantage.
The home side had returned from the interval with a zip and they tore Antwerp open again with Glen Kamara's punched pass into a spinning Hagi.
He fed Morelos on the inside right channel and the striker left Martin Hongla for dead before coolly squaring for Kent to stab home.
It was a wonderful flowing move and, as it turned out, not just the cherry on top of another stellar Euro showing.
Didier Lamkel Ze pouncing on a collision between Allan McGregor and Connor Goldson ensured it was a necessary cushion to prevent Antwerp burrowing their way back into contention.
The Belgians eventually ran out of steam and two late penalties from Barisic and Itten put the gloss on a fine victory.
Rangers march on
When Gerrard swept into Ibrox in April 2018 he almost immediately informed his players that restoring their European reputation was as important as any domestic revival.
The Premiership title is surely just a few weeks away from returning to Govan but their continental renaissance has been in full swing for some time.
And now, for the second season running, Rangers will take their place in the Europa League last 16.
These nights have been a rollercoaster and this 180 minutes trading blows with the Belgians surely ranks up there with the most thrilling of all.
A tie that simply had everything.
Morelos' just reward
In truth, it's a goal he deserved last week in what was an impressive all-round striker's performance.
But Morelos didn't have to wait long the second time around to extend his tally further beyond Ally McCoist's old European record.
The Ibrox legend was in the stands to see Morelos take his continental haul to 23 and while it's tempting to say he won't score a simpler goal, it was only days ago a Benjamin Siegrist clearance cannoned in off the striker's backside.
Morelos' hunger for finding the net has never been in question but he's now rediscovered the sharpness to yield the goals he so craves.
Patterson's incredible return
It turns out the Wednesday night apologies offered by Patterson, Bongani Zungu and Calvin Bassey were not just to draw a line under their Covid saga, but a precursor for their return to the squad.
McCoist neatly summed up Gerrard's dilemma pre-match, opining that the manager's job is to make the best decisions for the football club.
And despite lingering supporter anger towards the trio and academy compatriots Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear, fans may have deemed it an act of self-sabotage had Gerrard refused to include them, not least given his side's current injury list.
In truth, had Ryan Jack and James Tavernier been fit it's a decision the manager would likely not have had to make.
He may just feel it was vindicated when Patterson fired Rangers into a crucial two-goal lead just seconds after coming off the bench.
The 19-year-old will still have some way to go in order to fully win back the trust of his manager and, indeed, Rangers fans, but this was the perfect way to get back on track.
Gerrard's promise kept
The manager implored his side to be "bold" in approaching what was a precariously balanced scenario and they displayed no hesitancy in carrying out those orders.
After a dominant opening spell, however, Antwerp's unexpected equaliser heralded a return to the punch-for-punch thrills of the first leg.
Rangers' two early second half goals proved decisive as even Lamkel Ze notching Antwerp's second did little to loosen the hosts' grip on proceedings.
Gerrard could well have banked on his side's defensive record to see this out conservatively but that's just as risky a strategy and he'll feel vindicated for sticking to his attacking guns.
THAT 3rd goal
Patterson's headline-grabbing strike will perhaps live longest in the memory but Rangers' third was a scintillating snapshot of what they've been about this season.
Kamara's drilled pass, Hagi's control and spin, Morelos' raw power and Kent's speed and finishing touch all combined to serve up a goal of the highest quality.
Such free-flowing devastation is not a sight often witnessed from Scottish sides at this stage of European competition and it was one to savour for the Rangers fans still condemned to watch their side from a distance.
They'll pine for more night such as this when the stadium gates swing open once again.
