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

Nigeria International Joe Aribo was on target but Rangers lost 5-4 on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Aribo slotted a 57th-minute finish past Kevin Trapp in the Frankfurt goal and sent the Gers fans at the Ramon De Pizjuan into raptures.

Joe Aribo scored for Rangers early in the second half, but the lively Rafael Borre equalised with 20 minutes to go, forcing the match to go into extra time and then penalties. 

Calvin Bassey, starting in the Rangers defense was solid for the entire duration of the contest as he made vital blocks and interceptions.

His reading of the ball and tackling were also exceptional on the night in Andalusia.

Former Arsenal and Juventus star Aaron Ramsey missed for the Scottish giants in the shootout, with the germans scoring all their penalties. 

The first half was a quiet affair from both sides, even though Frankfurt created far better chances than their opponents.

The Germans created their first chance when Daichi Kamada weaved through the defence with ease and got one-on-one with the keeper, but failed to score with his low strike to the middle of the target as Allan McGregor produced a good save.

Both teams hade a number of chances to take the lead, but good defending and desperate goalkeeping kept the scores at 0-0 going into the break. 

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.