On a night when everyone of a Rangers persuasion was smiling it was George Edmundson who was the happiest man in Portugal.
The defender answered an SOS from boss Steven Gerrard and didn't look back as his towering display helped the Ibrox side secure a rousing 4-2 aggregate victory.
It's a remarkable turnaround for a player who appeared out the Europa League loop back in August.
The summer signing from Oldham was reduced to asking supporters where he could watch his side's clash playoff with Legia Warsaw after being left behind for the trip to Poland despite being fit and available.
The amiable Mancunian swiftly deleted his online SOS but has had to wait patiently for his big chance on the continent ever since.
In fact, the former Latics man hadn't featured in Europe since his appearance against Progres Niederkorn back in August.
But Edmundson was handed his big chance against Braga after Niko Katic's horror show against St Johnstone as he and Connor Goldson kept the Portuguese side's dangerous attack at bay.
And the 22-year-old was emotional at the final whistle after proving Steven Gerrard right as he exploded with joy with Rangers ' Euro adventure set to continue.
He said: "It was one of the best days of my life. Nights like this are why I came to a club like this.
"Nights like this are amazing.
"Obviously of late we've been conceding a few goals, so to get a clean sheet and be involved in that is massive for us."
He's been affectionately nicknamed 'The Fridge' by his adoring team-mates and manager Gerrard had nothing but love for him at the final whistle.
He said: “The partnership of the two centre backs was also faultless. George was thrown in at the deep end but there’s one way to get European experience.
“At some point a manager has to trust you to go in, whatever the challenge. He stepped up and he fancied it and he delivered with the help of Connor, who played like a captain, a leader.
“Connor was outstanding and he and George were backed up by the two full-backs on either side who were up against some really dangerous, top class operators."
Edmundson's stake for a regular place is a welcome defensive reprieve for Gerrard.
Katic's alarming dip in form had the manager pining for the return of injured Filip Helander, who hasn't featured since the Betfred Cup Final in December.
It remains to be seen whether this was a seminal moment the youngest of Rangers' centre-backs, but Edmundson has done his long-term prospects no harm at all.
