‘We know what can happen at Ibrox’ says Aribo after late blow
will have to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against RB Leipzig next week after the Bundesliga outfit claimed a 1-0 victory in Germany.
An 85th-minute strike from Spanish full-back Angelino finally broke down a stubborn Rangers team, who had put in a performance full of discipline and resilience in the first leg at the Red Bull Arena.
Rangers'dutchmanagervan Bronckhorst deployed a defensive team, operating a back five and playing without a recrangers ognised No 9. Marshalled by captain James Tavernier and centre-back Connor Goldson, Rangers snuffed out almost all of Leipzig's forays forward. It looked like they would escape with a draw, especially after the hosts’ Christopher Nkunku missed in front of an open goal on 69 minutes, but Angelino volleyed home to give Domenicotedesco'smentheadvantage.
Midfielder Joe Aribo said afterwards: “We thought we could have seen it out, it was disappointing to lose the goal.
"We wanted to make it hard for them to break through and we did it for large parts. We had a few half-chances and we just didn't get the break of the ball. The tie is still alive – we know what can happen at Ibrox."
RB Leipzig's away from in the competitionhasbeenstrong,as shown by a 2-0 win in Atalanta in the last round.
But at a raucous Ibrox next Thursday, where they have seen off Braga and Borussia
Dortmund in second legs this season, Rangers will still retain hope of making the final at the Ramon Sanchez-pizjuan in Seville. They will hope to have injured forward Kemar Roofe back, with the Jamaican using a hyperbaric chamber earlier this week in a bid to accelerate hisrecoveryfromakneeinjury. With first-choice striker Alfredo Morelos out of the rest of the season due to thigh surgery, Van Bronckhorst would need to use a false nine again or turn to Fashion Sakala – who came on as a sub last night – if Roofe is not deemed fit enough.
Rangersplaycelticawayfrom homeonleaguedutyinthefinal Old Firm game of the season on Sunday and Van Bronckhorst will need to decide whether to rotate his squad and rest key players ahead of Leipzig's visit.
In the other semi-final first leg, West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.