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Eintracht Frankfurt Win Europa League Final After Beating Rangers In Penalty Shootout

Eintracht Frankfurt won their first European title in 42 years by beating Rangers in a penalty shootout in Wednesday's UEFA Europa League final in Seville.

Robert Summerscales

Eintracht Frankfurt Win Europa League Final After Beating Rangers In Penalty Shootout
Eintracht Frankfurt Win Europa League Final After Beating Rangers In Penalty Shootout /

Eintracht Frankfurt won their first European title in 42 years by beating Rangers in Wednesday's UEFA Europa League final in Seville.

Frankfurt, who also won this tournament when it was called the UEFA Cup in 1980, had to come from behind in southern Spain before winning in a penalty shootout.

Midfielder Joe Aribo, playing out of position as a central striker, gave Rangers the lead on 57 minutes.

Rafael Santos Borre leveled for the Bundesliga outfit to force extra time, which then passed by without any major incident until the 118th minute when Kevin Trapp pulled off a superb save to deny Ryan Kent from point-blank range.

Trapp was again Frankfurt's hero in the shootout, saving a spot-kick from Aaron Ramsey to help his side prevail 5-4.

Frankfurt had knocked out Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham in previous rounds.

Their victory in the final saw them qualify for next season's Champions League group stage, despite having finished 11th in Germany's Bundesliga.

A shirtless Rafael Santos Borre is mobbed by his Frankfurt teammates after scoring the winning spot-kick in his side's penalty-shootout victory over Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final
A shirtless Rafael Santos Borre is mobbed by his Frankfurt teammates after scoring the winning spot-kick in his side's penalty-shootout victory over Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final :: IMAGO/Schuler

Story Of The Europa League Final

Seville's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium looked incredible as it was colored with waves of crisp white Frankfurt jerseys on a sea of Rangers blue.

But Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode needed to change his white shirt after it was bloodied by a high boot from John Lundstram inside the first five minutes.

Rode's received a head bandage for his troubles, while Lundstram was lucky not to receive a yellow card.

Frankfurt captain Sebastian Rode is treated for a cut head during the 2022 Europa League final
Frankfurt captain Sebastian Rode was treated for a cut head early in the final :: IMAGO/Schuler

Rangers had more of the ball in the first half, but Frankfurt posed the stronger threat.

Nine of the game's first 10 shots were from Frankfurt, including one from Filip Kostic, who ran 70 yards with the ball before firing just wide.

There was a nervous moment for Rangers early in the second half as the VAR conducted a check for a potential penalty after Borre had gone down under a challenge from Connor Goldson.

Rangers survived the review and then went ahead shortly after.

Aribo latched onto a misguided Djibril Sow header and capitalized on a slip from center-back Tuta before finishing cooly with his left foot.

Joe Aribo pictured celebrating in front of Rangers fans after scoring against Frankfurt in the 2022 Europa League final
Joe Aribo pictured celebrating in front of Rangers fans after scoring the opening goal in the final :: IMAGO/PA Images/Adam Davy

Rangers were only ahead for 12 minutes.

Kostic did excellently to fire in a low cross under pressure and Borre reacted quicker than Calvin Bassey to poke home a deserved equalizer.

Rafael Santos Borre (left) pictured celebrating moments after equalizing for Frankfurt against Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final
Rafael Santos Borre (left) pictured celebrating moments after equalizing for Frankfurt :: IMAGO/Jan Huebner

Frankfurt looked like the more likely side to get a winner in 90 minutes, but extra time was a fairly tight and tense affair.

Rangers finished extra time on top though and would have won the game 2-1 had it not been for Trapp.

Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (right) pictured making a save to deny Rangers' Ryan Kent during extra time in the 2022 Europa League final
Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (right) denied Ryan Kent during extra time :: IMAGO/Revierfoto

Trapp then produced another magic moment to sway a high-quality shootout in Frankfurt's favor.

Nine of the 10 penalties were converted but Trapp managed to thwart former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey.

Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey pictured after failing to convert his effort in the penalty shootout which saw Frankfurt win the 2022 Europa League
Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey pictured after failing to convert his effort in the penalty shootout :: IMAGO/PA Images/Isabel Infantes
Published
Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.

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