Rangers produced a stunning European away performances to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in the Europa League knockout round play-off first leg.
In an incredible encounter in the Westfalenstadion, Gers captain James Tavernier scored a VAR-awarded penalty for handball in the 38th minute before striker Alfredo Morelos scored the second three minutes later.
There were only 10,000 fans inside the ground due to local Covid-19 restrictions and the 9,500 home supporters could barely believe what they were witnessing as midfielder John Lundstram guided in a third after 49 minutes, only for England’s teenage international Jude Bellingham to pull a goal back for the Germans a minute later.
Morelos’ drive from 12 yards was helped in by home defender Dan-Axel Zagadou to stretch the Scottish champions’ lead again before Raphael Guerreiro’s 82nd counter made it 4-2 which leaves Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s men with the advantage going into the second-leg at Ibrox next Thursday.
There was a boost for Rangers before the game with the confirmation that Dortmund’s star striker Erling Haaland remained sidelined with an adductor problem, but there were plenty of familiar faces in the home side.
A let off for the away side came in the 32nd minute when a back-heeled effort from home captain Marco Reus made its way towards goal, with Rangers eventually clearing at the second attempt.
Then came real drama. There was some puzzlement when French referee Clement Turpin stopped the game before going over to view the monitor in a VAR check and, when he saw that Zagadou had clearly handled a Tavernier corner, he pointed to the penalty spot.
The Gers right-back sent Kobel the wrong way with his spot-kick to send 500 visiting fans wild with delight.
Morelos’ shot from an angle was spilled by Kobel for a corner and when Tavernier’s delivery came over, midfielder Joe Aribo flicked the ball goalwards and the striker had the easiest of tasks to tap in from almost on the goal line.
Shortly after the break, Kent displayed some dribbling magic before setting up Lundstram to curl the ball into the net from distance with a wonderful finish.
A minute later Bellingham reduced the deficit with a goal similar to that of Lundstram’s effort, but Rangers responded in the 54th minute when Morelos’s shot went in off Zagadou after an incisive breakaway led by Kent.
Dortmund tried all they could to get back and, with eight minutes remaining, Guerreiro beat McGregor with a tremendous long-distance drive but Rangers saw out the five additional minutes for a sensational result which will reverberate around Europe, albeit it would be folly to think the tie is over.
