Aribo delivers but Rangers are beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt in Europa League final

Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey were in the starting lineup for Rangers in the final of the UEFA Europa League while Leon Balogun was an unused substitute as the Gers lost 5-4 on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time Wednesday night at the Estadio Ramom Pizajuan in Seville, Spain.

In the first half, the Super Eagles midfielder who was deployed as a false nine curled the ball beautifully in the 20th minute albeit the referee's whistle went  for an initial foul on teammate Scott Wright.

He also teed up Ryan Jack at the edge of the Germans' box but the latter's shot went off target.

Eintracht Frankfurt created the first real chance in the second half but soon after the impressive Aribo once again laid the ball for Ryan Kent who blasted the ball wide.

Aribo opened the scoring in the  57th minute when he rolled the ball past goalkeeper Trapp after a mistake by Tuta.

Tuta had slipped after Djibril Sow headed the ball back towards his own goal.

Aribo whose goal was his first in the competition outpaced his marker before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

Frankfurt claimed a handball in the penalty box committed by Bassey but replays and the VAR checks confirmed that the ball only hit his chest and deflected for a corner.

Frankfurt restored parity in the 69th minute when Rafael Santos Borre pounced on the near post as Filip Kostic delivered a great cross that eluded Connor Goldson and Bassey.

Borre was at the right spot to strike the ball beyond Allan McGregor in goal for Rangers.

Bassey had a big let-off six minutes into the extra time when he was outwitted by Borre but he recovered to clear the ball on the stretch to put the ball away for a corner kick.

Aribo was replaced by James Sands in the first half of extra time. The game went into extra time after Trapp saved a goal bound shot late into the game.

Eintracht Frankfurt won the game 5-4 on penalties after Rangers' Aaron Ramsey missed his spot kick.

Izuchukwu Michael

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