Damilola Aina, Abuja
Daily Courier – Rangers suffered an agonising penalty shootout defeat in their fifth European final as Eintracht Frankfurt triumphed in an absorbing Europa League decider.
Rafael Borre crashed in the decisive spot-kick after Aaron Ramsey was denied just moments earlier in front of a colossal Rangers support in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
Those fans had been euphoric when the Scots took the lead through Joe Aribo’s ice-cool second-half finish in the sweltering cauldron in Seville.
However, Borre detonated raucous scenes in a jam-packed Frankfurt end 12 minutes later as he steered in a soft equaliser to send this sapping contest to extra time and penalties.
Despite chances for both sides during extra time, the deadlock could not be broken and the final was decided by penalties.
It was 3-3 before Aaron Ramsey’s spot-kick was saved, handing the advantage to the opposition.
Filip Kostic scored Frankfurt’s fourth despite McGregor getting a hand to it.
The Gers’ Kemar Roofe made it 4-4 but then a stunning penalty into the top corner by Rafael Santos Borre sealed the victory for the German side.
About 100,000 Rangers supporters had travelled to the Spanish city for the game.
The last time the Ibrox club won a European final was 50 years ago – in 1972 they beat Dynamo Moscow 3-2 to claim the Cup Winners’ Cup.
The last time Rangers were in a final on the continent was in 2008 when they lost 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup.
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