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EINTRACHT FRANKFURT BEAT RANGERS IN SHOOTOUT TO WIN EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League final after holding their nerve to beat Rangers 5-4 in a clinical penalty shootout as they claimed their first European trophy in 42 years.

Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp saved Aaron Ramsey’s spot kick — Rangers’ fourth — while Eintracht were flawless in their execution, scoring all five after the game had finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Joe Aribo had struck against the run of play in the 57th minute to give Rangers the lead, charging clear after a string of defensive errors and sliding the ball past Trapp.

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SEVILLE, Spain, May 18 (Reuters) – Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League final after holding their nerve to beat Rangers 5-4 in a clinical penalty shootout as they claimed their first European trophy in 42 years.

Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp saved Aaron Ramsey’s spot kick — Rangers’ fourth — while Eintracht were flawless in their execution, scoring all five after the game had finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Joe Aribo had struck against the run of play in the 57th minute to give Rangers the lead, charging clear after a string of defensive errors and sliding the ball past Trapp.

The Germans, unbeaten in the competition going into the final and eyeing their first European title since 1980, bounced back as Rafael Borre snuck in between two defenders to turn in a Filip Kostic cross in the 70th.

“We played 13 matches in Europe and we did not lose a single one,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner.

“We took it step-by-step and at the end we were rewarded. I have no words to express what I feel for the players,” added the Austrian, whose side will now compete in next season’s Champions League despite finishing in 11th place in the Bundesliga.

Frankfurt are the first Bundesliga team to win the Europa League, or its predecessor the UEFA Cup, since 1997, when Schalke beat Inter Milan on penalties.

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RANGERS DEFEAT DUNDEE UNITED TO KEEP CELTIC’S TITLE CELEBRATION ON HOLD

Rangers cut the deficit behind cinch Premiership leader Celtic to six points with a one-sided 2-0 win over Dundee United at Ibrox but the title remains on course for Parkhead.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst rang the changes following Thursday’s thrilling Europa League semi-final win over RB Leipzig and it took until the 55th minute to get the breakthrough when skipper James Tavernier scored from the spot for his 17th goal of the season.

Substitute Amad Diallo added a second in the 78th minute to reduce the gap behind Celtic with two fixtures remaining, but Rangers have a vastly inferior goal difference of 20 which makes the Hoops overwhelming favourites to reclaim the title.

But Ibrox eyes are elsewhere at the moment.

The euphoria from the 3-1 win over Leipzig still permeated the air in Govan with talk of the Seville final against Eintracht Frankfurt on May 18 the main topic of conversation.

There was surely no one inside the stadium who thought the title could realistically stay at Ibrox and the focus was on Spain.

Van Bronckhorst shuffled his pack with a first start for 18-year-old central defender Leon King while Jon McLaughlin, James Sands, Steven Davis, Aaron Ramsey, Scott Arfield and Fashion Sakala were reinstated

United boss Tam Courts, whose side went into the game in fourth place, gave a first start to 18-year-old midfielder Mathew Anim Cudjoe.

Midfielder Arfield, who signed a new contract on Saturday, was playing the false nine position as Rangers pressed the Taysiders from the start, with Sakala drawing a good save from United keeper Benjamin Siegrist in the ninth minute with an angled drive.

The Tannadice number one then made an even better save from Arfield’s close-range shot after the playmaker had linked up brilliantly with Davis inside the box.

Rangers kept probing and after the half-hour mark Sakala pulled a Connor Goldson pass out of the air inside the box but drove wide of the target from 12 yards.

Ramsey then crashed a shot off the post just before the break but the offside flag had been raised.

Courts’ side had offered nothing in attack by the time referee Steven McLean blew for half-time.

Diallo, on for Scott Wright for the start of the second half, made a yard of space for himself but fired a shot well wide before Siegrist parried another effort from Sakala to safety.

However, moments later the Swiss keeper bundled Sakala to the ground as he got on the end of a Ramsey pass and up stepped the unerring Tavernier to drive the penalty into the corner to put the hosts ahead.

The Rangers captain, left-back Borna Barisic and Arfield made way for youngsters Alex Lowry, Charlie McCann and Adam Devine, the latter making his debut at 19.

On-loan Manchester United forward Diallo had the ball in the net in the 69th minute but the offside was up and there was no protest.

United still remained toothless but in the 74th minute a slack pass back from Goldson had Gers goalkeeper McLaughlin moving sharply to keep it from crossing the line.

Four minutes later, however, the points were safe when Sakala drove towards the United goal and played in Diallo who deftly clipped the ball over Siegrist and the home side could have added more as they dominated until the final whistle.

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RANGERS REACH EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL AFTER EDGING OUT RB LEIPZIG IN IBROX THRILLER

Rangers won through to the Europa League final in sensational style with 3-1 semi-final second-leg victory over RB Leipzig to emerge 3-2 winners on aggregate.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Germany, and in the biggest game at Ibrox in 50 years, Light Blues skipper James Tavernier levelled the tie in the 18th minute with a close-range finish.

Amid a fever-pitch atmosphere, midfielder Glen Kamara drove in a terrific second from 20 yards just six minutes later and the Gers fans were in dreamland at the interval.

France striker Christopher Nkunku brought Leipzig back into it when he levelled the tie in the 70th minute with a smart volley but Gers midfielder John Lundstram fired in with 10 minutes remaining to book a place in the Seville final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The frantic search for tickets, flights and hotels for Spain is now under way after Rangers reached their first European final in 14 years on a never-to-be-forgotten night in Govan.

It has been an epic journey for Rangers who were playing their 18th game in UEFA competitions this season against Leipzig.

After much speculation, striker Kemar Roofe remained out injured with Aaron Ramsey declared fit enough only for the bench as Joe Aribo was handed a main striker’s role.

Midfielders Ryan Jack and Kamara and attacker Scott Wright returned, with Scott Arfield, Steven Davis and Fashion Sakala dropping to the bench.

Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco had Willi Orban, Kevin Kampl and Mohamed Simakan back from suspension with the former two included in the staring line-up.

It was Rangers most important game at Ibrox since they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg on their way to winning the trophy, and the stadium shook beforehand with the noise of excited Gers fans.

After a minute’s silence before kick-off in tribute to popular kitman Jimmy Bell who died on Tuesday both sides battled frantically for control.

Visiting keeper and skipper Peter Gulacsi saved a long-distance drive from Jack in the seventh minute before Orban headed a corner wide at the other end.

However, right-back Tavernier, who scored twice against Braga in the previous round at Ibrox, struck the first blow, racing in at the back post to knock in a cross from Ryan Kent after good work by Kamara in keeping the move alive on the touchline.

More mayhem ensued when Aribo played in Wright to lay the ball off to Kamara who guided a left-footed shot from outside the box past the outstretched arms of Gulacsi.

Ibrox was in uproar.

Aribo then somehow mis-kicked from five yards out after being set up by Tavernier’s header from Borna Barisic’s deep cross.

Just before the break the makeshift centre-forward then fell to the ground after blocking a powerful free-kick from Angelino with his face and was replaced by Sakala.

With defenders Connor Goldson, Calvin Bassey and Barisic booked in the first half, the home side had to be cautious – yet retain a threat – as the Bundesliga outfit went in search of a tie leveller.

Wright and Jack made way for Arfield and Leon Balogun just before the hour-mark as the visitors began to dominate.

Gers keeper Allan McGregor made a great save from Konrad Laimer’s drive but moments later he had no chance when Angelino crossed from the left for Nkunku to volley in from 10 yards and the pendulum looked like it had swung towards the visitors.

But only until Lundstram pounced when Kent’s cross from the left was cleared to his feet 12 yards from goal and he gleefully drove it low into the net.

Rangers were on their way to Seville.

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RANGERS COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT CELTIC IN SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL AT HAMPDEN

Rangers came from behind in the most dramatic fashion to beat Celtic 2-1 in extra time at Hampden Park to set up a Scottish Cup final meeting with Hearts.

The Light Blues had edged the first half of a pulsating semi-final, but there was little between the teams after the break until the 64th minute when Hoops left-back Greg Taylor fired in from the edge of the box.

Rangers substitute Scott Arfield levelled in the 78th minute with a fine finish to take the game to extra-time, the second time in four days for the Light Blues.

As the game looked set for penalties, Parkhead defender Carl Starfelt put through his own goal in the 114th minute with substitute Fashion Sakala in attendance to give Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side a memorable win and also deny Celtic the possibility of winning the domestic treble.

It was another memorable encounter between the two giants of Scottish football.

While Celtic had a clear week to prepare for the game, Rangers had taken 120 gruelling minutes to overcome Braga in their Europa League quarter-final tie at Ibrox on Thursday night.

Van Bronckhorst only made one change however, bringing in Scottish Cup keeper Jon McLaughlin for Allan McGregor.

Ange Postecoglou brought in Liel Abada and played Japan international Daizen Maeda through the middle with Kyogo Furuhashi on the bench.

The national stadium was split 50-50 between blue and green and the game began in frantic fashion amidst a smog of smoke from flares at both ends.

Rangers threatened first in the second minute, John Lundstram robbing Hoops midfielder Reo Hatate and Aaron Ramsey playing in Ryan Kent who shot over the bar from 12 yards.

The Light Blues came close in the 32nd minute when Starfelt gave possession away to Gers midfielder Ryan Jack.

The Celtic defender had to clear Kemar Roofe’s header from Borna Barisic’s cross away from the goal line before Hoops keeper Joe Hart saved from Joe Aribo on the follow-up.

Then, Lundstram took a pass from Aribo and rattled the post with a 20-yard drive.

Ramsey went off injured to be replaced by Scott Wright, who crossed for Aribo to head weakly wide in the last action of the first half.

Hatate screwed a shot wide of the far post in the 53rd minute and Kent did likewise for the Light Blues at the other end moments later.

Celtic brought on Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley for Abada and Tom Rogic just before the hour mark as Postecoglou looked for his side to impose themselves on the game, which they did.

O’Riley played a short free-kick to skipper Callum McGregor, he played the ball to Taylor and his shot from the edge of the box deflected off Calvin Bassey before beating McLaughlin for his first goal since August 2020.

Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers smashed a shot against the bar as Celtic hunted for number two and Rangers replaced Aribo and Jack with Arfield and Steve Davis.

Arfield – who had missed two great chances against Braga on Thursday – made a quick impact, flashing a shot past Hart from inside the box after a cross from captain James Tavernier had landed at his feet.

After a nervy end to the regulation 90 minutes came extra time, where Stephen Welsh and James Forrest replaced Taylor and Maeda.

Roofe got put through by Wright, but Hart was quickly out to smother, before Lundstram made way for Glen Kamara as the first half of extra time finished goalless.

Leon Balogun replaced Barisic and Sakala took over from Roofe, with Hatate making way for David Turnbull, as the substitutes kept coming.

Hart made a great save from Tavernier in the 110th minute but moments later, Bassey raced down the left and his cross was knocked into his own net by Starfelt under pressure from Sakala and the blue half of Hampden Park erupted.

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CELTIC MOVE TOP OF SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP AFTER 3-0 THRASHING OF RANGERS

Celtic have moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Two first half goals from Reo Hatate helped them to a 3-0 victory at home to Old Firm rivals, Rangers.

The win was Celtic’s fifth in a row, and sees them lead Rangers by a point.

Connor Goldson missed Rangers’ best chance of the game in stoppage-time when he headed over from six yards.

The full-time whistle soon sparked further celebrations from the home support after a big win in the Old Firm derby.

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EVERTON SIGN RIGHT-BACK NATHAN PATTERSON FROM RANGERS ON LONG-TERM DEAL

Everton have announced the signing of right-back Nathan Patterson from Rangers on a five-and-a-half year deal.

Joining for an undisclosed fee, the 20-year-old Scotland international becomes a second signing of the transfer window for the Toffees, who are currently 15th in the Premier League, with Ukraine left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko having already arrived from Dynamo Kiev.

Rangers academy product Patterson made his senior debut for the Glasgow outfit in January 2020 and has played 25 times for them in total.

Patterson, holder of six international caps, told Everton TV: “I’m over the moon to sign for Everton and looking forward to getting started.

“It was an easy choice to sign. This is a massive club with huge history and the fanbase is tremendous.

“Obviously we aren’t in the place where we want to be right now but we can definitely get there with the talent in the changing room and staff here, and I have full belief we can do that.

“It is really exciting to come to a club that has huge talent in the team. I am going to work my socks off and hopefully I can do well with them in training and in games.

“It was also great for me knowing the manager (Rafael Benitez) really wanted me here and that made my decision.

“When a club really wants you, it makes your mind up early on. I wanted to come here from the very start. I’m delighted to be here and really looking forward to playing in front of the fans at Goodison.

“Long-term, I want to nail down a starting position and win some trophies to make the fans proud.”

Patterson said Evertonians could expect “athleticism, desire and strong challenges, along with good forward play” from him.

He added that he had spoken to the club’s skipper and fellow right-back Seamus Coleman, adding: “I am really looking forward to learning from him and working together.”

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RANGERS GO FOUR POINTS CLEAR AFTER WIN OVER ROSS COUNTY

Rangers survived an early scare to brush aside bottom side Ross County 4-2 and go four points clear at the top of the cinch Premiership.

Celtic’s 4-2 win over Dundee at Dens Park earlier in the day put some pressure on the Ibrox men who found themselves a goal down to a Joseph Hungbo goal after only five minutes.

It was the fifth game in a row that Steven Gerrard’s side had lost the first goal but it was cancelled out by Joe Aribo’s header in 19 minutes before Ryan Kent, making his first start since September, scored his first goal of the season with a 25-yard piledriver.

Juninho Bacuna drilled in a third in the 49th for his first Rangers goal and captain James Tavernier’s cross was deflected into his own goal by County defender Alex Iacovitti

Substitute Jordan White, on for Hungbo, grabbed a late second for the visitors but Rangers go into the international break four points clear of their Old Firm rivals although Gerrard should have some concerns about his side’s sloppy start to matches.

The Gers boss had threatened to make changes following the 1-1 Europa League draw with Brondby in Denmark on Thursday night and Calvin Bassey, John Lundstram, Bacuna, Ianis Hagi and Kent came in while Ryan Jack was on the bench after being out since February.

After a minute’s silence in tribute to Remembrance Day, Ibrox was stunned when the Highlanders took the early lead.

Regan Charles-Cook sent Hungbo racing past the Gers rearguard and the attacker, on loan from Watford, slipped the ball past Gers keeper Allan McGregor.

The leveller came when a Tavernier corner was met by Aribo at the near post and he headed it into the far corner, to calm the growing anxiety in the crowd, made up of home fans only.

In the 29th minute only a terrific last-gasp tackle by Harry Clarke prevented Fashion Sakala getting a shot in from close range but when the Staggies failed to properly clear their lines following the corner, Kent sent a dipping shot from 25 yards over Ashley Maynard-Brewer and into the net.

The visitors found themselves further behind soon after the break when Bacuna played a one-two with Aribo and hammered a drive from the edge of the box past Maynard-Brewer to effectively seal the points.

Iacovitti was unlucky on the hour-mark when Tavernier’s cross from the right came off him and past Maynard-Brewer for a fourth.

Kemar Roofe replaced Kent immediately afterwards and then Nathan Patterson and Jack came on for Leon Balogun and Lundstram respectively with Jack getting a huge ovation from the Gers fans glad to see him back in action.

Substitute White fired past McGregor with three minutes remaining but it was too late to be anything other than a consolation.

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RANGERS HIT BACK TO TAKE A POINT AT HOME TO ABERDEEN IN DRAMATIC 2-2 DRAW

Rangers fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Aberdeen at Ibrox but their lead at the top of the cinch Premiership was cut to two points.

With the Govan club still reeling from the death of former manager Walter Smith on Tuesday, it was an emotionally-charged stadium which witnessed the visitors race into a two-goal lead after 15 minutes through headers by striker Christian Ramirez and former Celtic captain Scott Brown.

The shell-shocked champions reduced the deficit with an Alfredo Morelos header in the 20th minute and levelled with 10 minutes to go through a James Tavernier penalty but had to settle for a point.

Steven Gerrard’s side remain on 24 points with Celtic now sitting on 22 following their 3-1 win over Hibernian. Hearts and Dundee United are a point further behind.

It was a tremendous effort from the Dons, who had stopped the rot of 10 successive matches without a victory with a 1-0 home win over Hibernian on Saturday, while Rangers remain hot and cold.

There was a perfectly-observed minute’s silence before the match to commemorate Smith before a frantic and exhilarating first half unfolded.

The home fans were stunned when Aberdeen midfielder Dean Campbell, back in the side along with Dylan McGeouch and Jonny Hayes, played in Ryan Hedges who stood the ball up for Ramirez to head in from six yards.

There was more drama six minutes later when Dons captain Brown, whose every touch was booed, produced a stunning diving header from a McGeouch corner to make it 2-0 and he revelled in his celebration.

The Light Blues were in total disarray.

The much-needed lifeline for Rangers came when Morelos rose in a packed penalty area to nod in a free-kick from captain Tavernier.

As pressure on the Dons increased, defender David Bates blocked a goal-bound drive from Gers centre-back Connor Goldson.

From another corner in the 34th minute, Goldson and John Lundstram had efforts repelled by sheer numbers around the six-yard box and just before the break Joe Lewis brilliantly saved Goldson’s bullet header from a Tavernier corner.

Rangers tried to force the issue at the start of the second half but it was laboured rather than inspired.

Scott Arfield replaced Lundstram on the hour mark with Marley Watkins on for Ramirez before Scott Wright and Fashion Sakala came on to try to help Rangers rescue at least a point.

The frustrated home fans roared with 10 minutes remaining when referee John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot after Bates fouled Sakala and Tavernier fired the ball past Lewis to set up a barnstorming finale, but that was as much as Rangers were getting.

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WALTER SMITH: FORMER RANGERS AND EVERTON MANAGER DIES AT 73.

Former Rangers, Everton and Scotland manager Walter Smith has died age 73.

Smith achieved legendary status at Ibrox, winning 21 trophies in two spells making him the second most successful Rangers boss ever behind Bill Struth.

Rangers chairman Douglas Park commented: “It is almost impossible to encapsulate what Walter meant to every one of us at Rangers.

“He embodied everything that a Ranger should be. His character and leadership was second to none, and will live long in the memory of everyone he worked with during his two terms as first team manager.

“I spoke with Walter as recently as last weekend. Even when he was battling illness, he was still able to provide advice and support. For that, I am personally grateful. I know that he continued also to maintain dialogue with senior members of staff, including our manager, Steven Gerrard.

“Walter will be sorely missed by all of us at Rangers. For Rangers supporters, he was much more than just a football manager. Walter was a friend to many, a leader, an ambassador and most of all-a legend.”

Rangers confirmed in March that Smith was recovering in hospital following an operation.

And his passing comes 10 months after Jim McLean, whom he assisted over a long spell at Dundee United, died at 83.

“Walter leaves behind a wife, children and grandchildren, all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” added Park.

Rangers asked for the Smith family’s privacy to be respected.

A defender in his playing career, Smith had two spells with Dundee United and a short stint at Dumbarton in between. After assisting McLean at Dundee United his managerial career began in 1978 with the Scotland Under-18 team, before he took charge of the Under-21s.

Smith stepped up from assistant manager when Graeme Souness left Rangers for Liverpool in April 1991 and won the final seven of Rangers’ record-equalling nine league titles in a row.

Smith joined Everton in the summer of 1998 but his almost four years there were unremarkable, with the club unable to break into the top half of the Premier League or progress beyond cup quarter-finals.

After a brief spell as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United in 2004, he was appointed as Scotland manager. Despite improving the team, he failed to reach the 2006 World Cup and was part-way through the Euro 2008 qualifiers when he accepted an offer to go back to Rangers.

There he not only enjoyed further domestic success but reached the 2008 Uefa Cup final, losing 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg. Smith retired in 2011 as the club’s second-most successful manager. He briefly returned to Ibrox as a director and chairman.

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KAMARA SIGNS NEW CONTRACT TO STAY AT RANGERS TILL 2025

Glen Kamara has signed a new contract at Rangers until the summer of 2025.

The Scottish champions confirmed the deal and added: “Kamara, 25, has been outstanding for the Light Blues both domestically and in Europe since his arrival from Dundee in the January 2019 transfer window.

“He has established himself as a key member not only of Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad, but also of the Finland national team, where he played a major role in helping them qualify for their first-ever major tournament – Euro 2020.

“A hugely popular figure with his team-mates and the Rangers support, Kamara now has the opportunity to add to his 115 appearances and Scottish Premiership winners’ medal for the club thus far.”

Kamara said: “I am delighted to have committed my long-term future to Rangers.

“I have absolutely loved my time here and being a part of the title-winning team last season has given me the hunger to try to win even more in the seasons ahead.
“It was an easy decision for me to sign and I want to thank the manager, Ross Wilson and the board for the faith they have shown in me.”