Rangers booked their place within the spherical of 16 of the European League after an exciting 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund within the second leg of the final 16 return leg in Ibrox to win 6-4 on mixture.
Given the truth that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s males shocked their opponents with a 4-2 win within the first leg at Westfalenstadion final week, it was clear that the tempo would have been excessive proper from the beginning. And with an electrical ambiance contained in the Ibrox, the conflict undoubtedly lived as much as expectations.
Rangers pressed excessive from the whistle however have been shortly introduced underneath management and dismayed by final season’s Champions League quarter-finalists inside 5 minutes when Judd Bellingham stormed the penalty space and fired the ball straight from his proper hand.
James Tavernier scored twice in Rangers’ well-known win at Ibrox
Regardless of the course of the sport, the hosts bought a penalty in the course of the primary half. Ryan Kent was tripped within the penalty space and Captain James Tavernier stepped as much as declare the glory. He took a deep breath and hit the penalty kick previous Gregor Kopel.
However Dortmund didn’t go quietly. Alan McGregor made an outstanding save that belied his 40 years to disclaim Julian Brandt, earlier than Bellingham exploited an embarrassing try and clear Conor Goldson to fireplace a scientific equaliser.
Earlier than the break, they added a second to take the lead on the evening when Brandt’s ball within the six-yard field was not cleared by the Jerseys’ defensive position, permitting spirited Doniel Mallin to hurry in.
Van Bronckhorst introduced in Leon Balogun rather than Borna Parisic within the first half after which turned 5 on the again, gorgeous the Bundesliga aspect. Simply over 10 minutes into the primary half, Tavernier equalized for Rangers’ second aim of the evening, hitting a shot after connecting with a cross from Calvin Basie.
Shortly thereafter, Ibrox broke out for a 3rd time when Alfredo Morelos drove a break up and leg Kent, however after reviewing the incident on pitch, referee Matthew Lahoz disallowed the aim for a foul on Emre Can within the construct – regardless of replays displaying that he, in reality, went to Earth after stumbling on the leg of Morelos.
However it did not matter because the Rangers caught to a well-known victory.
Man of the Match – James Tavernier
Whereas Ryan Kent gave a efficiency of the best high quality, it is exhausting to get previous the Rangers captain, particularly contemplating that it was his two targets that helped the crew attain the Spherical of 16 for the third season in a row.
As he typically does, he saved his composure underneath stress to attain the opening aim from the penalty spot with confidence, earlier than blasting essentially the most lovely aerial ball from Calvin Basse’s cross to degree the evening and assist his aspect advance.
“We skilled three completely different plans – this was Plan C’
Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst Inform BT Sport: “I feel this is essential for everybody. I informed the gamers that it was an enormous second for us as a membership and we are able to make lots of people pleased with the efficiency we needed – and we did. It was a troublesome sport once more. We have been 1-0 up, so it was a very good begin. Actually and after we conceded two targets, within the first half I needed to change the system to a system that we skilled in and talked rather a lot in conferences.I feel that system labored rather well for us within the second half.
“Particularly at house, you wish to have a very good begin and I feel we have been very unlucky with the 2 targets. There have been some moments the place we might clear the ball. Within the second half, with just one aim distinction, I knew we needed to change one thing to be extra stable defensively, However we nonetheless should hold the moments to be harmful within the transition.With Ryan’s velocity [Kent], Alfredos Morelos was a lot better at holding the ball so we might transfer on; We had extra harmful moments from Dortmund within the second half.
It was a purely tactical determination [to take off Borna Barisic]. I mentioned earlier than the sport that we skilled three completely different plans for the day and that was Plan C, so we wanted it. I knew beforehand, additionally with the result in thoughts, that we needed to have the situations prepared for motion – and the gamers did rather well.
“It is an excellent efficiency and we’re actually glad to qualify for the following spherical. Within the spherical of 16 there are solely the highest groups left and we’re actually glad to be one in all them.”
Boyd: It wasn’t a coincidence
Chris Boyd on Sky Sports activities Information:
“It is an unimaginable end result, not only for Rangers, however for Scottish soccer. I mentioned final week that it will ship shock waves throughout Europe, however truly finishing the job, crossing the road and eliminating Borussia Dortmund is an unimaginable achievement for Rangers.
“What I’ll say is that Judd Bellingham is a famous person within the making. He’s solely 18 years outdated, however he has the physique of a person, the physicality of a person and he’s an enormous participant.
“The second half, plenty of the credit score ought to go to Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Within the first half, Borussia Dortmund have been on the high and it felt as if there was just one crew going by means of. However they have been capable of change within the first half, he moved to fifth and put Morelos and Kent Within the foreground.
“It was a nasty refereeing determination that really prevented them from profitable the match tonight, so it wasn’t a coincidence.”
Rangers can goal for larger targets after eliminating favorites
Dan Lengthy from Sky Sports activities:
Borussia Dortmund have been on the high of the listing of favorites to win the Europa League after their shock Champions League exit in December, and so, when Rangers received 4-2 within the first leg of the Spherical of 16 first leg at Westfalenstadion final Thursday, it was so. It’s seen as a shock.
Dortmund surprised learn the headlines and, to some extent, it was comprehensible why.
However within the second leg, Rangers confirmed that this was no accident. In fact, an enthusiastic Ibrox crowd performed their half, motivating Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s males all through the match, however they managed the match properly and finally eradicated their opponents’ menace.
Dortmund had crushed Borussia Moenchengladach 6-0 within the Bundesliga earlier than their journey to Scotland and, after a spring of their stride, dominated the match to cut back the combination rating to 5-4 when Judd Bellingham and Doniel Mallin scored to cancel the match. Penalty kick scored by James Tavernier in the course of the primary half.
Shifting to a 5 within the again on the break proved to be a significant hit. Dortmund not often threatened Alan McGregor, then was linked once more when Tavernier added his second aim with an outstanding shot on the again publish. Rangers have been supposed to attain once more, however Ryan Kent’s low finish was controversially dominated out by referee Matthew Lahoz.
Gers has now reached the spherical of 16 of the competitors for the third consecutive season, and after eliminating the nominees by submitting two skilled bids, they may think about their possibilities of progressing additional.
The well-known Rangers win the numbers
- Rangers have certified for the UEFA Europa League Spherical of 16 for the third consecutive season, the longest streak they’ve reached a minimum of this stage in a significant European competitors since a three-match streak between 2005-06 and 2007-08 – they reached the UEFA Cup ultimate in Final earlier spherical (2008).
- Rangers are the primary crew to attain greater than 6 targets towards Borussia Dortmund in a house and away European knockout match since Monaco did so within the 2016-2017 Champions League quarter-final (6-3 on mixture).
- James Tavernier has scored three targets for Rangers within the Europa League this season (all towards Borussia Dortmund), the identical quantity he scored in 25 matches within the match previous to 2023-22.
- Since Erling Haaland’s first European match with Borussia Dortmund in February 2020, the German crew has received solely 29 per cent of its matches in all European competitions when not taking part in (2/7), in comparison with 54 per cent when it participated. For them (7/13).
What then?
Rangers are again within the Scottish Premier League on Sunday after they host Motherwell at Ibrox. Match begins at 3 pm.
In the meantime, Borussia Dortmund additionally returned to league matches on Sunday after they journey to Augsburg within the Bundesliga; Kick-off at 4.30pm, dwell Sky Sports activities Combine.
Dwell broadcast of the German League
Sunday February 27 4:30 PM
