PENALTIES were the decider in Seville this evening as Rangers lost out in the UEFA Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Joe Aribo’s second-half goal was cancelled out by Rafael Borre as there was nothing to separate the sides over 120 minutes.
It was a difficult end to an incredible Europe journey for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad as the German side won the penalty shoot-out 5-4.
The Light Blues lined-up in Seville with Allan McGregor in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Calvin Bassey and Borna Barisic.
Ryan Jack returned to midfield alongside Glen Kamara and John Lundstram while Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Scott Wright made up the front three.
The German side were the first to have a shot on goal in this game as Daichi Kamada drove into the box before getting a shot away but it was blocked by Allan McGregor. The clearance fell for Djibril Sow who curled the ball towards goal but it was held by the Rangers number one.
McGregor was called into action again shortly after as he tipped wide a powerful strike from Ansgar Knauff.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Rangers had their best chance of the game so far as they looked for a breakthrough in Seville. Scott Wright played the ball through to Joe Aribo and he took a touch before curling a left-footed shot towards goal but it was just wide of Kevin Trapp’s right-hand post.
Shortly after, Rangers were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position to the left of the box after Ryan Kent was fouled. Borna Barisic whipped an inviting cross into the box which met the head of John Lundstram but Trapp was able to get a hand on it to touch it over the bar.
In first-half injury time, good build-up play from the Light Blues saw Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent link up on the right before the ball was cut back to Ryan Jack but his effort drifted just over the bar.
Into the second-half, Tuta saw a long-range effort bounce just wide of Allan McGregor’s post, before Ryan Kent struck wide a shot from outside the box as both sides searched for the breakthrough.
It did come shortly after and it was the blue half of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium that erupted.
A ball into the box took a touch off Frankfurt defender Djibril Sow to send it into the path of Joe Aribo who was through on goal. The Nigerian international saw off the attentions of a Frankfurt defender before guiding a right-footed shot low into the back of the net.
The Bundesliga side came close to levelling shortly after as Daichi Kamada lifted a shot over Allan McGregor but it landed on the roof of the net.
However, with 20 minutes of the game remaining Frankfurt got an equaliser. Kostic crossed into the box and found Rafael Borré who fired beyond McGregor.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst made two changes to his side as Fashion Jr and Steven Davis were introduced in place of Ryan Jack and Scott Wright.
Fashion Jr had an effort held by Trapp before Glen Kamara saw a shot blocked, while Kostic flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal but thankfully for Rangers no one was able to get on the end of it for Frankfurt.
With the score level after 90 minutes, the match headed to extra time as the sides continued to battle it out for the UEFA Europa League trophy.
Rangers were seeing a lot of the ball in the opening period of extra time but were unable to really test the goalkeeper.
Substitute Ajdin Hrustic had a shot from distance go wide for Frankfurt before Ryan Kent also tried a long-range effort but it was held by Trapp as the game entered the final 10 minute of extra time.
Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsey were introduced for the final five minutes and it was almost an instant impact from Roofe as he darted to the byline before cutting the ball back to Ryan Kent but the goalkeeper managed to block the shot.
Trapp denied Rangers in the dying stages as he saved a free-kick from James Tavernier to send the match to penalty-kicks.
The Gers captain stepped up to take the first penalty kick and slotted low beyond Trapp with Christopher Lenz netting the first for Frankfurt.
Steven Davis was next for Rangers and sent his right-footed penalty high into the back of the net before Ajdin Hrustic scored for the German side. Scott Arfield was up third and fired a powerful penalty beyond Trapp with Daichi Kamada making it 3-3.
Aaron Ramsey’s penalty was saved by Trapp before Kostić gave the German side the advantage as McGregor got close. Kemar Roofe made it 4-4 on penalties but Rafael Borré sealed the trophy for Frankfurt with their final spot-kick.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic (Roofe, 116), Lundstram, Jack (Davis, 73), Kamara (Arfield, 91), Wright (Fashion Jr, 73 (Ramsey, 116) , Kent, Aribo (Sands, 100).
Subs: McLaughlin, McCrorie, Balogun, King, Lowry, Amad.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp, N'Dicka, Sow (Hrustic, 105), Kostić, Kamada, Rode (Jakić 89), Touré, Borré, Lindstrøm (Hauge, 71), Tuta (Hasebe, 59), Knauff
Subs: Grahl, Lammers, Ache, Chandler, da Costa, Lenz, Barkok, Paciência.
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