HEARTBREAK FOR RANGERS AS FRANKFURT WIN EUROPA LEAGUE ON PENALTIES

Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League on penalties after Rafael Borre cancelled out Joe Aribo's opener. The German side won to claim their first European title since 1980.

Eintracht Frankfurt became the 2021/22 Europa League champions after 120 minutes of football and a penalty shoot-out against Rangers. The score was 1-1 after both regular and extra time, so the game had to be concluded via penalty kicks. Joe Aribo put Rangers in front just before the hour mark with a cool, calm and collected finish past Kevin Trapp, however, the goal was quickly cancelled out as Rafael Borre drew the score level when he poked the ball past Allan McGregor. Neither side could put the ball in the back of the net from that point onwards, resulting in the game going to extra time. Ryan Kent had the best chance during the additional 30 minutes, although he was denied the winner due to Trapp blocking the shot. Still nothing could separate the two sides; it went to spot kicks to decide who would win the Europa League and compete in the Champions League next season. Both Rangers and Frankfurt converted their first three penalties; when it came round to Aaron Ramsey’s turn, it all went wayward. The Welshman had been substituted on for Fashion Sakala especially for the shoot-out, but the occasion got too much and his gentle shot at goal was saved. Frankfurt won 5-4 on penalties in the end, with Rafael Borre scoring the winning goal. A great night for him as his goal was what took the game to penalties in the first place. A historic night for Eintracht Frankfurt – a devastating one for Rangers.

Lundstram lucky to avoid a booking

John Lundstram set the tone for the match as he took out Sebastian Rode just 5 minutes into the final. Lundstram intercepted a poor Frankfurt clearance, however, his touch was slightly off causing him to outstretch his leg to bring the ball down for the second time.

The Englishman’s raised boot caught Rode on the head as he did this, resulting in blood pouring from the Frankfurt captain’s head. Rode received immediate treatment for his head injury and seemed although he was fine once bandaged up. Lundstram was highly fortunate to walk away from that challenge without a booking from Slavko Vincic.

Sebastian Rode continued to play once he’d changed into a new shirt and managed to play for the remainder of the game – before being subbed off in the 90th minute for Kristijan Jakic. He went to the hospital after the game where he received stitches to his forehead, despite this nasty blow to the head, the German won’t have minded too much considering the outcome of the fixture.

First scare for Rangers

Frankfurt's first good chance of the game came when Almamy Toure dispossessed Glen Kamara and drove forward before he picked out Daichi Kamada on the edge of the 18-yard box.

Kamada broke into the penalty area and somehow wriggled past John Lundstram and Connor Goldson, however at the point he’d gone too close to Ranger’s goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

He managed to smother Kamada to stop him from putting the ball in the back of the net. Goldson then cleared although it fell to the feet of Djibril Sow, his attempt from range landed gently in the hands of a very relieved McGregor.

Aribo’s long range effort sails just wide

Halfway through the first 45 minutes, Rangers got their first real chance of the game. Up until this point, Frankfurt had dominated in terms of opportunities created. Scott Wright was caught late in the middle of the park by Obite N’Dicka, however, Slavko Vincic allowed Rangers to play advantage.

Joe Aribo received the ball on the edge of the box, and from 20 yards out, attempted to bend it around Kevin Trapp and into the top left corner. The Nigeria international curled the ball just wide of the far post, but it sparked some confidence into Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side who’d been hesitant and anxious going forward previously in the fixture.

Joe Aribo breaks the deadlock

10 minutes into the second half, Joe Aribo put Rangers in front. Connor Goldson cleaned up with a defensive header that reached the Frankfurt midfield. Tuta slipped as the ball arrived at his feet, allowing Aribo to burst through on goal.

Despite N’Dicka best attempts to catch up with Aribo and close him down, he couldn’t get there in time to prevent the Rangers forward from slotting the ball past Trapp. Advantage Rangers in the Europa League final, a vital goal in Rangers history, right in front of the travelling fans who were filled with elation.

Kamada can’t keep his cool

Frankfurt had a golden chance to equaliser 10 minutes after conceding, Kamada should have done better but couldn’t put his shot on target. Connor Goldson lost possession in defence, presenting the ball to Rode. The midfielder unlocked Ranger’s defence with a lobbed pass; he found Daichi Kamada who was one-on-one with McGregor.

Kamada opted for a first-time strike over McGregor, however, he failed to turn it goalward. The ball bounced off the roof over the net and into the stands as Kamada fell to his knees in disbelief, with his head in his hands – he knew it should have been one a piece.

Rafael Borre equalises

N’Dicka held the ball well out on the left flank before setting Filip Kostic, the Serbian decided not to take on both Scott Wright and Glen Kamara, instead, he dispatched a cross instantly after receiving the ball to stun the Rangers defence.

The precise cross did just that, finding Rafael Borre at the front post who stuck out his right boot ahead of Bassey and Goldson; then he simply stabbed the ball past McGregor to get Frankfurt back on level terms.

A deserved goal for Oliver Glasner’s side, who’d dominated most of the first half and piled on the pressure after conceding 12 minutes prior. It was all to play for with 20 minutes of regular time left on the clock.

Kent denied from point blank range

Neither side managed to score another goal before 90 minutes was up, therefore the game went to extra time to decide the 2021/22 Europa League winners. Throughout most of extra time, there we no clear-cut chances, until the 118th minute when Ryan Kent was unbelievably close to winning Rangers' first European title in 50 years.

Rangers escaped a scrappy midfield battle with possession thanks to Scott Arfield – he came on for Glen Kamara at the start of extra-time. Arfield laid the ball off to James Sands, who lofted the ball over everybody to find Kemar Roofe up the line on the right-hand side. Roofe was victorious in the foot races down the wing and played inside to question the Frankfurt defence.

Ryan Kent burst forward rapidly, meeting the ball as it dropped into the 6-yard box. Kent connected well with his strike, but Trapp stuck out a leg to deny him his moment of glory in front of the Rangers fans. Steven Davies tried to put the ball away from the rebound on the edge of the penalty area, although the ball soared high and wide.

The ball deflected twice off of the Frankfurt players however Vincic didn’t award Rangers a corner kick. That was the moment, and Kent wasn't able to take it.

Tavernier steps up in the closing moments

In the final kick of the game, James Tavernier stepped up 25 yards away from goal to take a free kick. With eyes only for goal, would this be the moment? Tavernier curled his effort over the wall and for a moment looked as though the campaign’s top goal scorer was going to add to his tally. Trapp managed to get across the goal in time to make a comfortable save.

Kevin Trapp booted the ball up the other end of the pitch, encouraging the referee to blow the final whistle. After 120 minutes of football, the Europa League winner was still undecided, meaning the contest had to go to penalties.

Ramsey misses penalty

Tavernier stepped up first in the shoot-out, he slotted his kick straight down the middle to get Rangers up and running. Christopher Lenz responded perfectly, emphatically placing his strike in the top-right corner.

Steven Davis was next to shoot from 12-yards, he found the top-right corner. Hrustic drew Frankfurt level again, sending McGregor the wrong way and rolling the ball into the bottom-left corner.

A long run up and a powerful strike from Arfield, he beats Trapp to make it 3-2. Kamada’s penalty hits the post and goes in, unlucky for McGregor who went the right way but couldn’t quite get a hand on the Japanese attacker’s spot kick.

Aaron Ramsey stepped up, he’d been bought on by van Bronckhorst for penalties. The former Arsenal man looked nervous, his tame attempt was denied by Kevin Trapp. The Rangers fans behind the goal were left devastated. Kostic made matters worse for Rangers by squeezing his shot past McGregor.

Borre wins it for Frankfurt

Kemar Roofe drew Rangers level, his penalty struck the left post and went in. Goal scorer Rafael Borre was up for Frankfurt, if he scored, they win.

It was his equaliser that took the game to extra time and eventually penalties, a goal would end the game and deem Frankfurt champions of the Europa League. Borre struck the ball into the top right corner, McGregor went the right way but couldn’t get to the ball.

Frankfurt had won the Europa League; Rafael Borre shattered Rangers' hearts. The 48-year wait for a European title was over, the Germans had done it.

Eintracht Frankfurt are Europa League champions

Eintracht Frankfurt now had two European titles to their name, after they defeated Rangers on penalties in Seville. The Bundesliga side dominated for the first half however Rangers took the lead early on in the second 45 via a composed Joe Aribo finish

The lead was short-lived as Rafael Borre equalised, a goal that forced the final to penalties. It was Borre who scored the deciding penalty to win his side the Europa League.

Heartbreak for Rangers, the European fairytale didn’t have the happy ending the fans hoped for, although they have to pick themselves up for their Scottish FA Cup final fixture on Saturday. They will face Hearts at Hampden Park.

A perfect way to end the 2021/22 campaign for Frankfurt, who will take home the silverware and book themselves a place in the Champions League next season.

What's Next?

Next match report = Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Saturday 28th May 8pm

Line-ups:

Eintracht Frankfurt – (3-4-3) Trapp, Toure, Tuta (Hasebe 58’), N’Dicka (Lenz 100’), Knauff, Kostic, Sow (Hrustic 105’), Rode (Jakic 90’), Kamada, Lindstrom (Hauge 71’), Borre

Bookings – N/A

Scorers – Borre (69’)

Rangers – (4-3-3) McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic (Roofe 117’), Jack (Davis 74’), Lundstram, Kamara (Arfield 90’), Kent, Aribo (Sands 101’), Wright (Sakala 74’ (Ramsey 118’))

Bookings – Aribo (62’), Wright (73’)

Scorers – Aribo (57’)

Referee: Slavko Vincic

Attendance: 38,842

MOTM: Rafael Borre

Written by Isabelle Newnham