SEVILLA, Spain (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt’s 42-year wait for a continental title ended on Wednesday. Rafael Santos Borré was in charge of putting an end to it.
The German team resolved 5-4 the shootout from the penalty spot against Rangers in the Europa League final.
Colombian Santos Borré converted after goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved Aaron Ramsey’s charge, giving Frankfurt its first European trophy since the 1980 UEFA Cup, the predecessor tournament to the Europa League.
The victory also secures Frankfurt’s first appearance in the European Champions League.
Trapp had provided a key save in the closing minutes of overtime, sticking out his leg to deny Ryan Kent’s close-range shot. In the shootout from 11 steps, the veteran goalkeeper also used a leg to stop Ramsey’s shot, sparking a noisy “White Wall” celebration from fans behind the opposite goal.
Celebrations also broke out in Germany. Many fans had come to the Frankfurt stadium to watch the final on a giant screen.
The match ended 1-1 after regular time and extra time. Joe Aribo put Rangers ahead in the 57th minute and Santos Borré equalized in the 69th.
Frankfurt was undefeated throughout the entire Europa League season. Only two other teams had achieved that feat: Chelsea in 2019 and Villarreal in 2021.
Rangers were seeking their first European title since lifting the Winners’ Cup trophy in 1972. The Scottish club also lost the UEFA Cup to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2008.
The match was even. Each club dominated some stretches until a mistake by Brazil defender Tuta, who stumbled while chasing a routine delayed pass, opened the door for Aribo to win the race.
Thus, the Englishman of Nigerian descent opened the scoring at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium calmly and with a low shot against Trapp.
Tuta had to be substituted after being injured in the incident. Aribo scored his first goal in this edition of the Europa League.
But the Bundesliga side leveled 12 minutes later when Santos Borré slipped between two defenders and set up a Filip Kostic cross.
The Barranquilla striker came up behind center back Calvin Bassey and sent the ball out of the reach of veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
There was violence between the fans in front of the stadium before the match. Supporters of both teams threw chairs and tables.
Five Germans were arrested the night before, following a confrontation with the police. More than 150,000 fans descended on this southern Spanish city, most without tickets to the 43,000-seat stadium.
Frankfurt will return to Europe’s top club tournament for the first time since 1960, when it lost the European Cup final to Real Madrid in Glasgow.
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