Frankfurt Sets Up Europa League Final Vs Rangers
FRANKFURT: Eintracht Frankfurt reached its first European final in 42 years by knocking West Ham out of the Europa League, setting up a title game against Scottish club Rangers.
Frankfurt beat 10-man West Ham 1-0 at home to complete a 3-1 aggregate victory in the semifinals, while Rangers overturned a 1-0 deficit from the first leg by defeating RB Leipzig 3-1 at a raucous Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow.
It is Frankfurt’s first European final since beating Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1980 in an all-German matchup in the UEFA Cup, the predecessor to the Europa League. Rangers will be playing its first European final since losing to Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup in 2008. The Scottish club is looking for a first European title in 50 years, after winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972.
In the inaugural Europa Conference League, Jose Mourinho will have a chance to add another trophy to his collection after his Roma set up a final against Feyenoord in a new third-tier competition.
Tammy Abraham scored the only goal as Roma beat Leicester 1-0 at home to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Feyenoord held Marseille to a 0-0 draw in France after winning the first leg 3-2.
The final will give Mourinho a chance to win his first European trophy since claiming the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United. He has also won the Champions League twice.
Marseille’s chances of overturning its deficit against Feyenoord took a blow when playmaker Dimitry Payet limped off in the 33rd with an injury.
Feyenoord reached its first final since being runner-up in the 2002 UEFA Cup. The Dutch club won the European Cup in 1970.
The final is scheduled for May 25 in the capital of Albania, Tirana.
There were also violent clashes in France between Marseille and Feyenoord fans outside the Stade Velodrome stadium before the game.
One video showed a Marseille apparently unconscious on the ground as he was helped by fellow fans, and another showed two groups charging at each other shortly before kickoff just outside the stadium.