From BZ/dpa
Yes! Eintracht Frankfurt triumphed in a dramatic Europa League final 5-4 on penalties against Glasgow Rangers.
The Hessians crown their memorable season with their first international title in 42 years and play in the Champions League for the first time. In an electrifying final of the Europa League, coach Oliver Glasner’s team secured the first German title in this competition since 1997 in a nerve-racking game of penalties.
In regular time, Rafael Borré (69th) equalized the Rangers lead in front of 44,000 spectators through Joe Aribo (57th). In the decision from the point, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp became heroes with a saved attempt by Aaron Ramsey and Borré, who was accurate again.
Trapp with tears in his eyes on the RTL microphone: “We are all heroes here. Look at the fans. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
On Thursday, the big victory party is supposed to take place at home at the Frankfurt Römer reception. Led by captain Sebastian Rode, who played with a blue turban after a head injury, the team is now on a par with the 1980 UEFA Cup winners around Karl-Heinz Körbel and Jürgen Grabowski, who died this year. Under the motto “With Jürgen, for Jürgen”, Frankfurt’s footballers crowned a remarkable trip with a number of evening celebrations.
Shirtless Rafael Borré and his teammates celebrate his penalty to win the Europa League Photo: Reuters
In Berlin, too, many fans shared the fever with the Frankfurters. The atmosphere at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán was crazy right from the start. The Eintracht fans welcomed their team with another impressive choreography, in the streets and on the squares of the Andalusian metropolis, thousands of supporters of both clubs watched the final without a ticket. During the game, Spanish media reported clashes between the two groups of fans about three hours before kick-off. Euphoria prevailed in the arena. “We will be the bosses in the stadium,” Eintracht President Peter Fischer announced.
Rafael Borré (white jersey) keeps an eye on the ball and equalizes for Frankfurt Photo: dpa
And the Hessians started the game with great commitment. With a lot of risk and sharp passes, Eintracht repeatedly played their way into the Rangers penalty area – but had to survive a moment of shock in the fifth minute. After a foul by John Lundstram on the head, Rode lay bleeding on the pitch and was treated for several minutes. The Brit hit the Eintracht professional with the cleat on the forehead.
Daichi Kamada had the first half chance, but after a short solo he didn’t finish. Glasgow’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor easily caught Djibril Sow’s subsequent shot (12′). When Ansgar Knauff tried with his left foot, McGegor had more trouble (20′). Eintracht was much closer to the lead, at least in the first half hour, and Filip Kostic seemed to be able to do better on the counterattack (32nd).
Joe Aribo (blue jersey) made it 1-0 for Glasgow Rangers. Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has no chance Photo: Reuters
Glasner kept calling out instructions in the blue polo shirt. The Austrian, who came from Wolfsburg before the season, had to do without the injured defender Martin Hinteregger, while Jesper Lindström got fit in time. The Dane, whose deflected shot went just wide at the beginning of the second half (49′), together with Kamada and Borré, caused unrest in the initially steadfast Rangers defence.
Frankfurt captain Sebastian Rode suffered a head laceration after a collision in the first half Photo: dpa
The Scottish runners-up only got close to the goal of German national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp through Aribo, but the 25-year-old’s shot went just wide (26′). When Lundstram headed the ball, Trapp had to stretch to steer the ball over the crossbar (36′). Eintracht could not afford to make mistakes – the Rangers, who were getting better and better, had knocked out Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig in the previous rounds.
Eintracht’s third international final after 1960 and 1980 became increasingly exciting. In the second half, both teams played towards their own fan blocks. In Frankfurt, more than 50,000 supporters trembled at the public viewing in the Eintracht Arena. Especially when Aribo came free in front of Trapp after a chain of errors in the Frankfurt defense of Sow and Tuta and scored. Tuta was injured and was replaced by Makoto Hasebe.
The Frankfurters cheer on one another before the penalty shoot-out Photo: Reuters
With the final phase in mind, it was Kamada who had a great chance to equalize, but the Japanese’s lob not only went over McGregor, but also over the goal (67′). Borré did better in the penalty area after a sharp cross – the game was back and remained open. Kostic’s attempt went just wide (89 ‘), then it went into exhausting extra time, in which Trapp secured the penalty shoot-out with two strong saves shortly before the end.
