GERS SUFFER HEARTBREAK IN SHOOTOUT

FRANKFURT RANGERS 1

After extra time; Frankfurt win 5-4 on pens TONY BANKS

AARON RAMSEY missed from the spot as Rangers suffered shootout heartbreak in Seville.

The former Arsenal midfielder, on an extra-time substitute, missed the fourth kick and Frankfurt’s Rafael Borre kept his cool to win it.

Joe Aribo had Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers dreaming of European glory when he slotted in a 57th-minute opener. But Frankfurt’s Colombian striker Borre (above) levelled 12 minutes later.

Ryan Kent went agonisingly close late in extra-time but was denied by Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp and the game it went to penalties.

More than a 100,000 Gers fans had poured into the Spanish city over the past few days – though only around 18,000 had tickets.

Rangers, fresh from overcoming another Bundesliga side in RB Leipzig in the semi-finals, were facing a team who had KO’d Barcelona and West Ham on the way to the final.

John Lundstram was lucky not to pick up a booking in a frantic start for a foot-high challenge that left Sebastian Rode with blood pouring from a cut.

But Frankfurt settled better and Gers No.1 Allan McGregor, 40, pulled off a double save from Daichi Kamada and Djibril Sow, then did even better when he tipped Ansgaur Knauff’s shot round the post.

Van Bronckhorst’s side began to find their feet, as Aribo curled his shot just wide, and though the dangerous Filip Kostic twice missed, Lundstram saw his header saved by Trapp.

Rangers rode their luck as Connor Goldson escaped when he looked to have brought down Borre but VAR remarkably ruled no penalty.

But the Scottish giants at last broke out. Kent sliced wide then they struck 12 minutes into the second-half.

Brazilian Tuta slipped as Aribo pounced on the ball and the makeshift striker raced away to coolly slot past Trapp.

Frankfurt responded and Kamada should have levelled when Goldson lost the ball but lifted a golden chance over. Two minutes later, though, the Germans were deservedly level, as Kostic fired the ball across goal and Borre nipped in to poke home.