Eintracht Frankfurt ended their 32-year wait for a second major European trophy with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win following a tense 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League final.
Rafael Borre was the hero of the hour for the Bundesliga side at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as he scored the winning penalty after Rangers' Aaron Ramsey, brought on as a substitute at the end of extra-time, had his tame spot-kick saved by Kevin Trapp.
In doing so, Oliver Glasner's Eintracht become only the third side to win the competition without losing a game after Chelsea in 2018-19 and Villarreal in 2020-21.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men gave it everything but he'll need to pick his side up as they challenge for silverware once again when they meet Hearts in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.
Rangers looked on course for victory in Seville when Joe Aribo, who had been one of his side's most lively players in the first half, finally took his chance after the restart by firing them in front on 57 minutes to send Scottish fans into a frenzy.
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A misjudged header from Djibril Sow saw chasing defender Tuta get into a tangle and slip, which allowed Aribo a free run on goal and the 25-year-old kept his composure to slot past Trapp.
Rangers' lead lasted only 12 minutes though as Borre, who also scored in the quarter and semi-final wins over Barcelona and West Ham, poked home Filiip Kostic's cross from close range.
Both sides had chances in extra-time but Ryan Kent will be left ruing his golden opportunity in the final moments as Trapp pulled off an outrageous save from inside the six-yard box to deny the Englishman from Kemar Roofe's cross.
A penalty shoot-out always produces an unlucky loser and a hero and in this case former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey had the unfortunate role of the former after his penalty, the fourth for his side, was comfortably saved.
Colombian striker Borre kept his cool a spot-kick later and ensured Eintracht fans will party long into the early hours of Thursday morning, knowing their team will be competing in the Champions League group stages next season with an extra trophy in the cabinet.
MORE: Europa League prize money breakdown: How much do the winners get in 2022?
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Rangers final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rangers | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Goals:
Joe Aribo - Rangers (57th min)
Rafael Borre - Eintracht Frankfurt (69th min)
Europa League final full penalty shootout
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Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Rangers as it happened
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EINTRACHT FRANKFURT WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES
5th pens: Roofe has better luck and scores, in off the post. Borre steps up and smashes the winner with a ruthless penalty into the top left to stun Rangers fans behind the goal.
4th pens: Ramsey, brought on moments ago to take the spot-kick, MISSES. His shot straight down the middle is saved. Kostic drills the ball into the bottom right and it's advantage Eintracht. 4-3 to Eintracht.
3rd pens: Trapp guesses the right way but Arfield's shot is buried into the top left. Ramada's curled effort leaves McGregor no chance as the ball kisses the post on the way in. 3-3.
2nd pens: An emphatic finish from Davis is matched by a calm finish from Hrustic. 2-2.
1st pens: Tavernier opens the scoring by slotting it straight down the middle. Lenz responds by smashing it into the top right with McGregor going the other way. 1-1.
The penalty shoot-out will take place at the Rangers end following a coin toss and the Scottish side will take first.
120th min: Tavernier has one final effort from a free-kick but Trapp is there again and that's that. After 120 minutes the score is tied at 1-1 and now the players must hold their nerves in a penalty shoot-out.
118th min: What a save from Trapp! Roofe puts it on a plate for Kent in the six-yard box but Trapp spreads himself and denies Kent with his legs from inside the six-yard box. Could that be Rangers' last chance?
117th min: Roofe and Ramsey are on for Barisic and Fashion Jr. Penalties are looming...
115th min: Jakic's turn. His shot from the edge of the box had McGregor worried but it was always rising.
114th min: Another long-range effort, this time from Kent, if easily saved.
108th min: Eintracht have their 20th attempt of the match, compared to Rangers' nine, but again substitute Hrustic drags his shot wide.
105th min: A huge 15 minutes for both sides. Barisic fires a shot from the left side of the box but Trapp follows it all the way and comfortably saves.
We're underway in the second half of extra-time!
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME
101st min: Goalkeeper Aribo walks off to a standing ovation from the Rangers fans with Sands coming on. Eintracht also have fresh legs on with Lenz replacing Ndicka.
96th min: Bassey has been immense all night but a slip in concentration sees Borre race through towards the goal, but as McGregor comes out to close the angle, Bassey makes amends with a last ditch tackle.
94th min: Arfield has the first real chance in extra-time but fails to keep his shot on target from distance. It's gone 11pm local time in Seville now so it's going to be a late one.
We're underway in the first half of extra-time!
EXTRA-TIME TO COME
90+2 min: Into five added minutes and it's sloppy from both sides. Need one moment of magic or this one is heading to extra-time.
88th min: A big let off for Rangers as Kostic fizzes a cross in with pace across the six-yard box but nobody is there to steer the ball home. Captain Rode is replaced by Jakic.
83rd min: Kamara plays in Fashion Jr for his first chance but his weak effort from a tight angle doesn't trouble Trapp.
77th min: Eintracht substitute Hauge sends the ball over the bar from distance.
75th min: A double change for Rangers as Davis & Fashion Jr come on for Jack and Wright, with the latter struggling to show the same level of threat he managed in the opening 45.
69th min: GOAL!
Borre draws Eintracht level with a trademark finish. He gets in front of his man in the six-yard box to get on the end of Kostic's cross and pokes the ball past McGregor. It had been coming.
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67th min: A huge change for Eintracht. Kamada runs onto a lofted ball over the Rangers backline and gets to the ball before McGregor but he can't keep his shot down and his lobbed effort lands on top of the goal netting.
65th min: The tackles are flying in near the centre circle and every Rangers effort is cheered loudly by their jubilant fans - but there's a long way to go and players need to keep their cool right now.
59th min: Lindstrom's effort from the edge of the box is blocked by Bassey to huge appeals for handball but closer inspection shows it was a brilliant block with his chest. Defender Tuta has been taken off with what looks like an injury following that slip.
57th min: GOAL!
Aribo takes his big chance. He's looked lively all evening and after defender Tuta slips, he pounced on his error, runs through on goal straight down the middle and keeps his composure to slot past Trapp and send the Rangers fans into bedlam.
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52nd min: Borre goes down in the box from a challenge from Goldson but the referee waves play on. A VAR check follows and the decision stands but Goldson was a tad fortunate there.
49th min: Eintracht have come out the blocks quickest here. This time Lindstrom's effort goes just wide from the edge of the box and McGregor was well beaten.
47th min: The smoke from a few pyrotechnics still linger in air as Tuta takes a shot from range but it goes well wide.
The second half is underway!
HALF-TIME: 0-0
45+2 min: Another effort for the Scottish side goes begging as Jack's shot from the edge of the box flys over the bar.
44th min: Tavernier is lucky to avoid a yellow card after tugging the shirt of his opponent having being caught in possession. Eintracht push forward to win a corner but it comes to nothing.
40th min: Van Bronckhorst will be pleased with how his team are now finding their feet. They're dominating in possession but are yet to take advantage of the silly free-kicks Eintracht keep gifting them.
36th min: Kent wins a free-kick on the left in a dangerous position.Barisic whips the ball in and Lundstram's looping header is tipped over by Trapp.
32nd min: Kostic goes on a bursting run down the left from his own half after the German side clear from a Rangers free-kick but he looks to shoot and his shot drags wide. A pass into the middle looked to be the better option.
27th min: Rangers' first real chance comes from Aribo. Neat work from Wright sees him lay the ball off to Aribo who takes a touch, turns, but his curling effort from the edge of the box goes just wide with Trapp at full-stretch.
24th min: Eintracht have enjoyed 57% possession so far but need to make their chances count. Rangers still look a little lost of idea in the final third but have been patient with the ball when looking to break through the midfield.
20th min: Too easy for Eintracht as Knauff bursts down the right and cuts inside before unleashing a shot which McGregor does does well to tip wide for a corner. The corner is wasted but Rangers are under some early pressure.
12th min: McGregor is the first goalkeeper to called into action as Kamada dances his way into the box but after beating two defenders his tame effort doesn't trouble the Scot too much.
6th min: A dangerous high boot from Lundstram catches captain Rode in the head, who is bleeding and now has his head bandaged up. After a quick VAR check the midfielder avoids a caution.
4th min: Some lovely work by Wright in the middle of the park creates some space for Aribo who is fed through but the attacker loses his footing at the crucial moment and Eintracht clear.
3rd min: Kostic has already had two attempts to from the left flank to put the ball into the box but the first is cleared at the front post and the second headed clear at the back.
We're underway!
5 mins to KO: The atmosphere is electric at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium with the teams about to come out.
Which players are going to be the heroes tonight? Which set of fans will party long into the night in Seville? Will Eintracht go the entire Europa League campaign unbeaten and lift the trophy? Or, will Rangers claim their first European title in 14 years?
We're about to find out.
One final reminder of the starting lineups for both sides...
Eintracht: Trapp; Toure, Tuta, N'Dicka; Knauff, Sow, Rode, Kostic; Lindstrom, Kamada, Borre.
Rangers: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram, Kamara; Wright, Aribo, Kent.
20 mins to KO: One player who will be key for Rangers tonight is captain James Tavernier.
"This means the world to us," said the skipper. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the team and the boss.
"It's one step away and we want to bring the cup back home. We'll leave everything on the pitch and make everyone proud."
35 mins to KO: With the transfer window fast approaching, players know that tonight's match, watched by millions around the world, could be huge for their careers if they give the performance of a lifetime.
The Sporting News has taken a look at six players who could be linked with a big-money move to the Premier League with some already attracting interest from English clubs.
Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt stars who could make Premier League transfers
55 mins to KO: Van Bronckhorst goes with the same team from the semi-final success against RB Leipzig at Ibrox.
Rangers have overcome the likes of Braga, Red Star Belgrade and Borussia Dortmund to reach the final.
Ahead of kick-off, take a look at just how Rangers have managed to book their spot in the Europa League final.
How did Rangers reach the Europa League final? Key reasons behind the Scottish team's run
1 hour 10 to KO: The teams are in.
1 hour 30 toKO: Fans from both teams have been basking in the Seville sun all afternoon but the countdown to kick-off is getting nearer and the nerves will now doubt setting in.
There's little to split the two teams this evening but Eintracht have the psychological advantage knowing they've not lost a single match in the Europa League this season.
They could become only the third side to win the competition without losing a game after Chelsea in 2018-19 and Villarreal in 2020-21.
Rangers have only lost twice though against Lyon and Sparta Prague in the early stages of their campaign.
2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of the Europa League final. It's Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Rangers and it's set to be an absolute cracker in Seville. The 42,700-capacity Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan plays host to tonight's showpiece event but the streets of Seville are expected to be lined with over 100,000 Rangers fans who have made the trip across Europe to support their side.
How to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Rangers
UK
- Date: Wednesday, May 18
- Time: 8 p.m. BST
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1, BT Sport Ultimate
- Streaming: BT Sport app, btsport.com, BT Sport YouTube channel
USA
- Date: Wednesday, May 18
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)
- Spanish-language TV: UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming: fuboTV, Paramount+, TUDN.tv
Canada
- Date: Wednesday, May 18
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: N/A
- Streaming: DAZN