Rangers were eliminated from the Europa League final on penalties by Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the trophy in Seville.
Rangers took the lead with Joe Aribo’s clinical goal three minutes before the hour mark. But Rafael Santos Borre equalized with a poacher’s finish 12 minutes later.
After a quick, incisive counter-attack, veteran Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor successfully saved Ansgar Knauff in the 20th minute, and Filip Kostic sent a left-footed drive just wide of goal just after the half-hour mark.
However, the Scots had chances; Joe Aribo’s long-range curler went just wide of the post, while John Lundstram’s header was deflected over the bar by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. The first half, on the other hand, was primarily a cagey affair with few clear chances.
Frankfurt had a major penalty claim denied down after the interval – Rafael Santos Borre went down under a tackle from Connor Goldson, and despite minor contact, the Rangers defender did not win the ball. VAR examined the call but chose not to instruct the referee to examine it again.
Rangers seized the lead moments later, when Djibril Sow’s back header enabled Aribo to break through, and when Frankfurt defender Tuta stumbled, Aribo was able to go right through and coolly put in the game’s first goal, sending the Scottish club’s supporters into a frenzy.
Frankfurt recovered and continued to generate chances; Daichi Kamada’s shot went barely wide midway through the second half, but Santos Borre leveled two minutes later, sneaking in front of Goldson to score from close range from a dangerous Filip Kostic cross.
The game went into extra time because the two teams couldn’t be separated for the duration of the game. Rangers had the better opportunities, with Ryan Kent being stopped at close range by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in the 116th minute, before Steven Davis’s follow-up attempt went agonizingly over the bar. This resulted in sanctions.