Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOTAL ASTATION
Spanish heartbreak for brave Gers
BY
THEY held history in their hands for 12 minutes before allowing it to slip through their fingers.
The penalty shootout defeat was heartbreaking. Gio van Bronckhorst’s men had given every last ounce of energy in a bid to become the first Scottish team to lift two Euro trophies.
But at the end of 120 minutes in Seville, their dreams went the same way as Celtic’s in the same Spanish city 19 years ago.
Eintracht Frankfurt proved one step too far on an incredible journey that looked like having a joyous ending when Joe Aribo opened the scoring in the 57th minute.
The Germans fought back and striker Rafael Santos Borre’s goal in the 69th minute sent the final into extra-time then penalties. And Germans don’t lose many of those, do they? They scored all five, of course they did.
Aaron Ramsey missed Rangers’ fourth, crashing his kick off keeper Kevin Trapp’s legs and, although James Tavernier, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield and Kemar Roofe scored, it simply wasn’t to be.
The Light Blues walked off the pitch with the applause of their vast support, whom they’d done proud, ringing in their ears but a 50-year wait goes on and who knows when or if they’ll get another chance like this?
Van Bronckhorst picked the same starting XI that dismantled RB Leipzig in the semi-final second leg – a match in which Rangers had ripped into the Germans from the off.
This time they were to be on the receiving end of an early onslaught but survived.
Japanese star Daichi Kamada led the Rangers back lot a merry dance inside the box before jabbing in a shot that was saved by Allan Mcgregor, who then had to hold the follow-up effort from Djbril Sow under his bar. Ansgar Knauff ’s charge down the right and cut inside for a shot then needed a full-length save from Mcgregor (left).
The opening 20 minutes had been negotiated without conceding but van Bronckhorst’s men were second best. And yet just before the first water break, Wright set up Aribo for a swerving shot that just didn’t come back in time.
Eintracht continued to dominate after half-time and were unlucky not to score from a Jesper Lindstrom shot that clipped Glen Kamara’s heel and spun inches wide.
Connor Goldson survived a VAR review of a Frankfurt penalty claim when Borre went down in the box but the ref got it right in giving a corner.
That scare jolted Rangers into life and Ryan Kent spurned a great chance, slashing wildly after Tuta’s slip had allowed Aribo to play him in.
That was in the 54th minute, two minutes later came the moment Gers fans have craved for half a century. A Goldson header sent the ball skywards, Sow got under it and could only head it
and, as Tuta slipped again, Aribo pounced. In on the keeper, he steered a left-foot shot low past Trapp.
Frankfurt didn’t lie down and when a Lindstrom shot crashed off Bassey’s chest another penalty appeal was rightly rejected.
And when Kamada found the top of the net after lofting a shot over Mcgregor, when he should have scored, it really did look like it might be the Light Blues’ night.
In the 68th minute Borre blew that theory out of the water when he equalised. The Colombian had been sharp all night and reacted quicker than Bassey to get on the end of a brilliant low cross from Kostic.
The lead had lasted 12 minutes.
Davis and Fashion Sakala came off the bench for Ryan Jack and Wright as
Rangers tried to find a way to win it again.
Extra time was no less nerve-shredding. Arfield, on for Kamara, blasted over before Bassey recovered from a slip to deny Borre with a great recovery tackle.
Level at the break, Gers went to a back three – James Sands on for Aribo playing on the right, with Tavernier and Barisic pushing up as wing-backs.
It was more open now and Eintracht’s Kristijan Jakic went close seconds after Kent had tested Trapp.
The final throw of the dice was Roofe and Ramsey’s appearance. The striker immediately set up Kent, who was denied point-blank by the keeper.
Ramsey then won a free kick for Tavernier 22 yards out but Trapp plucked the ball out of the top corner.
Then came those penalties.