Eintracht Frankfurt’s 42-year wait for the European title ended with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Rangers in the Europa League final, thanks to a save from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp
Eintracht Frankfurt’s 42-year wait for the European title ended with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Rangers in the Europa League final, thanks to a save from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp
Eintracht Frankfurt’s 42-year wait for the European trophy is over. The German club ended their title drought with a penalty shootout win over Rangers in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp came up with a big save at the end of extra time and helped Frankfurt win 5-4 on penalties in another shootout. The game ended 1–1 after regulation and extra time.
Colombian striker Rafael Borey, who equalized in the second half for Frankfurt, converted the deciding penalty to win the club’s first European trophy since the 1980 UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the Europa League. The victory marked Frankfurt’s first appearance in the Champions League the following season.
“It feels incredible,” said Kevin Trapp. “I’m still trying to catch my breath. For us, for Frankfurt, for the region. For the whole of Germany I think it’s a wonderful thing. To be able to give back to my fans like this is so much.” special.”
kevin trap saves the day
Former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp made a crucial save with a leg spread to block a close shot from Ryan Kent in the final minutes of extra time. Trapp used his left foot to block Aaron Ramsey’s penalty in the shootout, setting up a huge celebration by a “white wall” of fans behind the goal opposite Frankfurt.
Celebrations were also held in Germany as Frankfurt fans packed the club’s stadium to watch the broadcast of the final.
Joe Aribo gave Rangers the lead in the 57th minute and Borey equalized in the 69th minute for Frankfurt, becoming the third team after Chelsea in 2019 and Villarreal in 2021 to go through an unbeaten Europa League.
Rangers’ Aaron Ramsey saves his shot saved by Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp during a penalty shootout in the 2022 Europa League final. photo credit: Reuters
Ramsey, Ryan Kent recalls prove costly
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Ramsey entered the match in the final minutes of extra time to be in a shootout. Christopher Lenz, Ajdin Harstik, Daiichi Kamada and Philippe Kostik also converted penalties for Frankfurt, while James Tavernier, Steven Davies, Scott Airfield and Kemar Roof found the net for Rangers in the shootout.
“It’s a small difference when you get to this stage of competitions,” said Rangers captain Tavernier. “It was in our hands but we conceded that goal and then Kevin Trapp made a big save from Ryan Kent. Then he saves in the shootout and we are all devastated. ,
Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronkhorst said Kent’s absence made the difference. “You have to score them, especially in the last minutes,” he said.
Rangers were trying to win their first European title since the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972. The Scottish club also lost to Zenit St Petersburg in the 2008 UEFA Cup. It was trying to make a comeback after 10 years of being sent to the lower divisions due to the financial meltdown.
“It’s going to be a sore spot. We know how difficult it will be to get back to this level again,” said Rangers midfielder Davies.
Frankfurt would return to the top flight of European competition for the first time since 1960, when it lost to Real Madrid in the European Cup final in Glasgow.
Rangers and Frankfurt were evenly matched
The game was mostly down to the fault of Frankfurt’s Brazilian defender Tuta, who tripped while trying to chase down a regular back header. This allowed Arebo to speed him up to open the scoring by sending a low shot to Kevin Trapp at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizzuan Stadium in Sevilla.
The tuta had to be replaced after he was injured in the incident. It was Arebo’s first Europa League goal this season.
Frankfurt equalized 12 minutes later and Borey slid between the two defenders to convert a cross from the left bank by Kostik. He came in from behind central defender Kelvin Bassi to send the ball to veteran goalkeeper Alan McGregor.
There was fan violence outside the stadium before the match, with supporters of both clubs throwing chairs and tables at each other. Five German fans were detained after a confrontation with police the night before. More than 150,000 fans flocked to the southern Spanish city, most of them without tickets, for the final at the 43,000-capacity stadium.