Rangers vs Borussia Dortmund: Tavernier nets double as the Scottish side enter Europa League last-16

James Tavernier scored a brace for Rangers while Dortmund netted through Jude Bellingham and Donyell Malen as the match ended 2-2 and the Scottish side secured a 6-4 aggregate win.

File photo of Rangers players; Credit: Twitter/@RangersFC
By Sreejith C R | Feb 25, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Rangers and Borussia Dortmund played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Europa League play-off second leg fixture on Thursday. The Scottish side go through to the last-16 of the competition with a 6-4 aggregate win. James Tavernier opened the scoring for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side at the Ibrox Stadium before Dortmund equalised through Jude Bellingham. And then, Donyell Malen put the visitors ahead but Tavernier once again leveled the score for the hosts and sealed their passage into the next round. 

Also read: Napoli vs Barcelona: Xavi’s side win 4-2 to enter Europa League last-16

Rangers had stunned the German side with a 4-2 win in the first leg at Westfalenstadion last week and it was clear that the visitors would come out all guns blazing right from the start. Bellingham’s effort from Julian Brandt’s corner-kick bundled off the right-hand upright before Matt Hummels saw his shot blocked in front of goal inside the opening five minutes.

However, against the run of play, the home side took the lead from the penalty spot on 22 minutes. Brendt’s trailing leg caught Ryan Kent just inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Tavernier stepped up and smashed the ball straight into the roof of the net, making the score 1-0. 

In response, two minutes later at the other end, Rangers keeper Allan McGregor made a good save to deny Brandt from inside the box before Bellingham scored the equaliser. A poor clearance from defender Connor Godson handed the ball to Bellingham inside the box, and the Englishman made no mistake as he fired home past the 40-year-old home goalkeeper at the near post. 

It was end-to-end action in Glasgow as Scott Arfield played a one-two with Alfredo Morelos to get inside the box but his shot was blocked by the visiting goalkeeper Gregor Kobel who quickly came off his line to close the gap. And, the followup from Morelos was blocked on the line by Hummels. 

Tavernier completes brace

Bellingham cut inside from the left and forced a great save from McGregor at the near post before Malen put the visitors in front, three minutes before break. Right-back Meunier’s cross somehow found its way to Brandt at the far post, who laid the ball for Malen to prod in from close range.  

Ten minutes into the second half, Morelos tested Gobel with a powerful low drive before Tavernier made the score 2-2. Calvin Bassey showed great upper body strength to skip past Marius Wolf on the left flank and deliver a cross for Tavernier to volley in at the far post. 

 Few minutes later, Rangers thought they had their third goal of the night when Morelos led a breakaway move and squared for Kent to roll in, but after reviewing the incident on the pitch side monitor, referee Mateu Lahoz ruled the goal out for a foul on Emre Can in the build-up. 





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