In a final lacking in talent and with stretches of yawns, Eintracht Frankfurt, executioner of Barcelona in the quarterfinals, lifted the Europa League, a feat that a German entity had not achieved since the 96-97 season, with Schalke 04. Kevin Trapp and Santos Borré were decisive in key moments of the game. The goalkeeper took the match to penalties with a great save on Kent, while the coffee striker, who had forced extra time, scored the decisive shot. Aaron Ramsey was the only one to miss for Rangers.
EIN
RAN
Eintracht
trapp; Touré, Tuta (Hasebe, 59′), N’Dicka (Lenz, 101′); Knauff, Rode (Jakic, 90′), Sow (Hrustic, 105′), Kostic; Lindstrøm (Hauge, 71′), Borré, Kamada.
rangers
McGregor; Goldson, Lundstram, Bassey; Tavernier, Jack (Davis, 74′), Kamara (Arfield, 90′), Barisic; Wright (Sakala, 74′), Aribo (Sands, 101′), Kent.
goals
0-1 M.58 Aribo. 1-1 M.69 Santos Borré.
Referee
Vincic (Slovenia). TA: Aribo (62′), Wright (73′).
Countryside
Sanchez Pizjuan. 40,000 spectators.
Mixed hobbies, heat and a lot of beer in the stomachs of Germans and Scots. Dangerous cocktail. On the lawn, low-class football. Unworthy of a continental final that the ‘capo’ Ceferin contemplated from the Sánchez Pizjuán box. The ball took almost two minutes to caress the Nervión turf, flying head to head without a spirit to treat it with the delicacy it deserves. The giddy pace was suddenly slowed by blood. Lundstram parted Rode in the middle and vital fluid gushed from the Eintracht captain’s scalp. Once sutured and with the cumbersome bandage in place, the game resumed without polishing. No elaboration, disjointed offenses and shots from long distance that did not accelerate the heart of the goalkeepers.
It was Eintracht that was the ‘closest’ to 1-0 in a counterattack by Kostic once the hydration break was over. Minutes before, Aribo had rehearsed a left-footed shot that looked for the squad but got lost along the way.
As if that were not enough, the ‘educated’ Germans filled the resumption with flares and smoke. During this edition of the Europa League they have circumvented the security of all the stadiums they have passed through. Frankfurt threatened in the stands and in the rectangle, with a Lindstrøm shot that Kamara deflected and he came close to upsetting the Protestants.
The Rangers didn’t flinch. In their cave and waiting for the mistake they sang bingo. Sow and Tuta made a morrocotudo mess and Aribo won heads-up with Trapp. The afternoon, however, was for mistakes. The Scottish advantage was short-lived. Santos Borré won the race against Bassey and Goldson to push a gift from Kostic into the center. The coffee grower impregnated Seville with the aroma of extension.
Except for a save from Trapp to Kent with time almost up, the extra half hour was marked by the fear of not losing. The goalkeeper was going to be the hero on penalties, stopping Aaron Ramsey’s shot with his foot. Santos Borré rounded off an immaculate batch for Oliver Glasner’s men.