Rangers 2-2 Borussia Dortmund (6-4 agg): Scottish champions dump out Bundesliga giants after epic 10-goal tie

Rangers accomplished “a giant second” of their historical past after dumping German giants Borussia Dortmund out of the Europa League in an epic 10-goal tie.

But Tavernier’s back-post end restored Rangers’ two-goal mixture benefit to seal a last-16 place.

“You begin with perception,” stated Ibrox supervisor Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The Scottish facet have been controversially denied a extra comfy finish to the tie when Ryan Kent’s purpose was harshly disallowed after a VAR evaluate.

But the Ibrox membership withstood late stress with a raucous house crowd behind them to guide their place within the Europa League’s final 16 for the third successive season.

And the unimaginable efficiency and swashbuckling endeavour proven to down Dortmund will give Van Bronckhorst’s males loads of perception going into Friday’s draw.

“We had them final week and we had them at the moment however we reacted rather well,” added the Rangers boss.

“I feel our mentality at the moment was excellent and the spirit we confirmed was improbable. My message earlier than the sport was that this can be a night time once we might make everybody proud, concerned with this stunning membership and we did.”

The omens have been in favour of Rangers pre-match. Before Thursday’s second leg, just one facet within the historical past of the Europa League had didn’t undergo in a knockout tie after successful an away leg by two or extra targets.

Factor within the continued absence of famous person striker Erling Haaland for the guests, issues have been wanting constructive for Van Bronckhorst’s males as they took to the turf at a fever-pitch Ibrox.

Dortmund, on their first go to to Scotland in over twenty years, have been off the again of beating Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 on the weekend – a transparent indication of their attacking efficiency, even with out their talisman.

But Rangers, as they did final Thursday, began on the entrance foot with a effervescent house crowd behind them and handed up the sport’s first likelihood when Tavernier’s deep free-kick was headed over by Alfredo Morelos.

That noise was momentarily muted to pin-drop silence when Nico Schulz’s nook was diverted onto the again put up by Bellingham.

That Dortmund likelihood appeared to spook Rangers, who struggled to stand up the pitch and keep possession in opposition to a slick visiting facet, as Malen rifled a strike from outdoors the realm previous Allan McGregor’s right-hand put up.

But in opposition to the run of play, Kent – who was a thorn within the facet of the Dortmund defence every week in the past – jinked into the field earlier than being tripped by Julian Brandt’s lazy leg.

There was a way of deja vu when Tavernier, who opened the scoring from the spot in Dortmund, stepped as much as take the penalty with the rating at 0-0, and the Rangers captain saved his cool once more to fit the ball straight down the center.

Ibrox was bouncing, however Brandt had an instantaneous alternative to rectify his penalty concession when he struck at purpose from simply contained in the field, however McGregor was equal to the German worldwide’s effort.

Bellingham was available minutes later to indicate the composure Brandt was missing, capitalising on Connor Goldson’s failed clearance to fit away coolly right down to McGregor’s left – {the teenager}’s second purpose of the tie and the second time he offered his facet with a lifeline.

Rangers’ three-goal benefit was nearly restored immediately when Scott Arfield broke into the Dortmund field and had a end thwarted by Gregor Kobel. The rebound fell to Morelos, who leathered a first-time effort off Mats Hummels on the goal-line.

Rangers as a substitute noticed their lead diminished when Malen, who had a fierce strike tipped huge by McGregor moments earlier, poked in from shut vary after sketchy defending from the Ibrox backline.

The Dutch striker might have then levelled the tie on mixture simply earlier than the break when he turned one other near-post effort, this time from shut vary, huge of the goal.

With Dortmund hitting their stride, Rangers wanted the interval. And so it proved as Van Bronckhorst’s males began the second interval with extra of a menace.

Kobel received down low to either side to disclaim Morelos twice in succession, then one other dose of bedlam.

Calvin Bassey powered his means up the left to cross into the field. World-Cup winner Hummels made a large number of slicing it out and Tavernier was there on the again put up to punish, driving in his and Rangers’ second of the night time.

Last season’s Scottish champions thought that they had a second-leg lead when Morelos broke clear and laid Kent off to faucet within the easiest of finishes, however a VAR evaluate judged Morelos to have fouled Emre Can within the build-up when the Germany midfielder appeared to kick the Colombia striker’s calf.

That second might have confirmed to be a turning level within the tie, however Rangers remained agency and held off any late Dortmund stress to see out a exceptional win that might be etched into Ibrox folklore.

Man of the match – James Tavernier

What did we be taught?

Dare to dream, Rangers followers. Your facet have simply dumped out the event favourites, what subsequent?

An further two Europa League video games, not less than, might be painted by some as a destructive because the Ibrox facet goal to claw again a three-point hole on leaders Celtic.

But Van Bronckhorst should use this night time, that may go down in membership historical past, to gas his gamers’ drive to reclaim the Premiership crown.

Sunday’s draw at Dundee United highlighted the unpredictable nature of the champions’ season, however they’ve proven in spades they will cope with the tempo and high quality of top-level opposition.

It is now about exhibiting that on a constant foundation within the enterprise finish of the marketing campaign.

What they stated

Rangers supervisor Giovanni van Bronckhorst instructed BT Sport: “We skilled with three totally different plans for at the moment. We wanted to have situations in place to be executed and I’m glad we did.

“We had a fantastic efficiency, we performed them twice and received 4 factors, its a fantastic efficiency. The final 16 is simply high groups, we watch for them and we look ahead to the draw.”

What’s subsequent?

Rangers return to Premiership obligation on Sunday (15:00 GMT) as they welcome Motherwell to Ibrox.