Leipzig 1 Rangers 0: Angelino’s late strike breaks Gers hearts and puts Bundesliga side in control of Europa League tie
ANGELINO dented Rangers’ dreams of achieving European glory for the first time since 1972.
The former Manchester City left-back broke the Scottish side's resolve by volleying a mouth-watering winner on 85 minutes.
It was the Spanish defender's first European goal since netting against Manchester United in December 2020.
Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst insisted he had the "right game plan"; to mitigate the loss of his two top scorers for this seismic semi-final first leg in the Europa League.
Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe were both bitterly disappointed to miss out through injury for the visit to the German club.
It left Fashion Sakala plugging the gaps as the only recognised striker as they target a first European final since 2008.
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The scoreline could have been much worse had it not been for the heroics of Allan McGregor and Christopher Nkunku blowing a host of golden chances.
It was all Leipzig to start, they had an early shot at goal through Konrad Laimer, but it was well blocked.
French midfielder Nkunku then shimmied into the box with magic footwork and unleashed a rasping shot which Allan McGregor superbly saved.
Rangers were let off after the break when the 24-year-old created another chance for himself, rounded McGregor - but blazed wide in front of an open goal.
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The ex-PSG academy prospect was thanking his lucky stars when Angelino picked up the pieces with his moment of magic to hand Leipzig a slender lead ahead of the Ibrox visit.
Yet will be confident of turning the tie around after already blowing away Leipzig’s Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund this year.
Joe Aribo said: "All the boys are disappointed we thought we could see the game out.
"We are ready to play them at Ibrox.
"We wanted to stay compact and make it hard for them to break through us, they didn't have many chances but they got that goal late on in the game.
"The boys needed to push and give their all and that's what we did."
