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European glory is Eintracht Frankfurt's once again. For the first time since 1980, the German club won a continental trophy, winning the Europa League on Wednesday by beating Rangers in penalty kicks. The match ended 1-1, and Eintracht won in the penalty shootout 5-4.
Kevin Trapp denied Aaron Ramsey's attempt, Rangers' fourth, opening the door for the German club, and they'd take advantage as Rafael Santos Borre delivered once again. The Colombian international scored the crucial equalizer in regulation, and he also fired home the winning penalty kick with a fierce strike on a hot night at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. As a result, Eintracht have qualified for next season's Champions League.
Here's the moment Eintracht won it:
RAFAEL BORRE WINS EINTRACHT FRANKFURT THE EUROPA LEAGUE. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HQDPNv6WMg
It took a while for the goals to come in this tense showdown. A tame, fairly even opening half brought zero goals and few quality chances, but the opener arrived on 57 minutes thanks to Joe Aribo. The England-born Nigerian striker capitalized on Eintracht defender Tuta's slip, allowing him to get in on goal, scoring with a low finish that lacked a bit of accuracy but managed to trickle past Trapp. It was a finish that the game needed to open up, and from there it did.
Rangers, prioritizing defense, looked to see out the final half an hour with a style of defending and then countering, but it was Eintracht who needed the goal and got it. Borre scored a true poacher's goal, hitting home a cross from six yards out in the 69th minute to bring the slight favorites level.
The rest of regulation and the first 15 minutes of extra time brought very little on the attacking side, but in the second half, Rangers nearly won it. Ryan Kent had a fantastic chance in front of goal after a dashing run from the middle, but his effort was denied by an alert Trapp, preventing what probably should have been a goal from the Scottish side.
The goalkeeper would come up big again in the shootout, staying towards the middle to deny Ramsey's shot and put his team in position to earn the trophy, while Eintracht put on a penalty clinic, making all five of their opportunities to send them to the summit of the competition.
Absolutely elated. It's been a long time coming, they put all of their eggs in their Europa League basket, and it has paid off with a remarkable run to the final. They dominated Barcelona, they took care of arguably the best West Ham we've seen in a long time, and in the end they finished the tournament on what can only be describe as an epic string of results.
They played 13 games in this season's Europe League, and they never lost once. This was also their only chance to return to European competition next season, as the win grants them a Champions League birth. They finished 11th in the 18 team Bundesliga, and unbelievably only won three more games domestically, 10, than they did in the Europa League, seven.
Devastated. They were painfully close. A decade ago, Rangers were demoted to the fourth division after going into administration before a takeover by English businessman Charles Green. Ten years later, they were this close to earning their biggest trophy in 50 years.
But they have plenty of reason to be proud. Nobody gave them a chance against Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, let alone thought they could make it to Seville. After losing star striker Alfredo Morelos to injury, they rallied under Giovanni van Brockhorst, and their fans will now believe that this could be the start of something special. There is no making them feel better, but brighter days may be ahead for a club that not long ago was at rock bottom.
This one is easy. While the goals were obviously big, Rangers probably should have won it in extra time. But Trapp's save on Kent was just massive. Watch how he tracks the ball from the endline and positions himself to make this stop:
A POINT-BLANK SAVE FROM KEVIN TRAPP. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PmUAyircFq
It's Trapp again. How could it not be? The key save in extra time, the crucial stop on Ramsey in penalties, he did it all. And, as long as you aren't a Rangers fan, you have to feel good for a guy like Trapp. The 31-year-old German shot stopper earned his first international club trophy in this game after some rough patches in the past. Remember PSG's epic collapse at Barcelona in the Champions League back in 2017? PSG won the first leg 4-0 and lost the second leg 6-1 in a shocking defeat at the Camp Nou. Trapp was the goalkeeper that day for PSG -- and it was surely one of the darkest days of his career. Just over five years later, he's won his first trophy with a club the the club where's spent the majority of his career.
Kevin Trapp appreciation post 🧤 — TWO big saves in extra-time ✌️ — Stopped Ramsey's pen 🛑 — Won #UEL 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2hbeEl4wHH
John Lundstram did not deserve to play the rest of the first half after this challenge on Sebastian Rode. His cleat was dangerously high, he gave Rode a nasty cut that saw blood rushing down his face seconds later, and the fact that he didn't even get a yellow for it was baffling. It should have been a straight red, yet somehow it wasn't.
Did John Lundstram get away with one? 🤕 pic.twitter.com/g6htEkhkeg
That was the final game of the season for Frankfurt, and now some time off is to come before preseason preparation. Eintracht will of course be in UCL group stage next season. Rangers still have their domestic cup final against Hearts looming on Saturday, and then will start their European campaign in the Champions League's third qualifying round next season, potentially making the group stage, heading to Europa League or exiting Europe all together. If they are eliminated in the third qualifying round, they are out of European competition. If they make the playoff round and advance, they'll be in the UCL group stage, and if they make the playoff and lose, they'll be back in the Europa League group stage.
What a confident take as the roof of the net is rippling. Their first UEFA title in 42 years as Frankfurt are going to the Champions League! An amazing run for the 11th placed Bundesliga side to earn a Champions League place.
RAFAEL BORRE WINS EINTRACHT FRANKFURT THE EUROPA LEAGUE. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HQDPNv6WMg
He needs the post too but Frankfurt can win it on their next take.
McGregor guessed right again but it won't matter
Not a great take as Trapp saves his strike down the middle with his feet.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good as that was a close one.
Trapp went the right way but there was no chance at saving that one!
A professional start to this shootout
He's seen it all and confidently puts his penalty home/
Off the bench and into the net
Calm as expected, the slight hop from Tavenier was just enough to evade Trapp's dive
A POINT-BLANK SAVE FROM KEVIN TRAPP. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PmUAyircFq
Tavernier takes a good free kick chance but Trapp reads it the whole way. We're going to a penalty shootout.
He keeps it in playing the ball across the line. Kent takes the shot from point blank range but Trapp comes up with an excellent block. Rangers are pushing to avoid penalties.
Each team has had four shots on target but Rangers' have been pretty tame compared to Frankfurt's. It will take a moment of magic to prevent penalties as each team is running out of steam but Roofe is coming on for the final minutes to change the tide for Rangers.
The ball looked good off of his foot but it curved in to end up being an easy save for Trapp.
James Sands being on the pitch is good from an American perspective but hopefully, someone can score a goal sooner than later. Feels like we're destined for penalties though.
James Sands comes on for Rangers. He’s the third @USMNT player to appear in a European final. pic.twitter.com/kB100WUg9C
James Sands subs into the Europa League final for Rangers. 🇺🇸 He’s the third #USMNT player to appear in a European final. 2022 UEL 🇺🇸 James Sands 2021 UCL 🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic 2010 UEL 🇺🇸 Clint Dempsey
Joe Aribo is off, and James Sands has come on for Rangers for these last 20 minutes.
The Germans are getting into an advanced position with a chance to put something on goal, but the accuracy is off. It's becoming quite a tight match with very little margin for error. Lenz has just come in for Eintracht to bolster the defense with 20 minutes to go.
Extra time begins. Deep breaths... LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER! ⏰ 91' | #SGERFC 1-1 | #SGEuropa
A STRIKER'S FINISH FROM BORRE DRAWS FRANKFURT LEVEL! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/iwGWeW4X3b
Frankfurt are having struggles stringing passes together and Rode has now been withdrawn from the match.
There won't be nearly as much stoppage time as the first half but neither side seems to be pushing for a winner either. Are they happy for additional time?
Frankfurt have dominated shots and possession in the beginning of the second half just like the start of the game but it's Rangers who have been more effective in the final third. There's no momentum advantage either as both sides have canceled each other out.
After Kamada's shot went over the bar. Kostic put a great cross into the box and neither of Rangers' center backs dealt with Borre. That lead didn't last long for the Scottish side.
JOSEPH OLUWASEYI TEMITOPE AYODELE-ARIBO!!! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/WapIkHvuqu
What a moment. It's a decent finish, but the accuracy wasn't all that great. Trapp was just delayed a moment in reacting, and it was enough time for the ball to get by. Just so poor from the Eintracht defense. One defender tripped over himself and the other was not quick enough to close down.
Rangers' most dangerous attacker all game, Aribo finally got a little support on a run. It's his first goal of Europa League play and it couldn't have come at a better time. What a goal for him.
The Rangers support are going wild! Could they be the first Scottish team to lift the Europa League trophy?
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