Despair for van Bronckhorst as his side crash to late defeat in Leipzig
Soccer Football - Europa League - Semi Final - First Leg - RB Leipzig v Rangers - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - April 28, 2022 Rangers' Allan McGregor looks on as RB Leipzig score their first goal REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Giovanni van Bronckhorst watched his side concede a late goal in Leipzig tonight to crash to their SEVENTH European defeat of the season.
Angelino scored the glory goal with an 85th minute volley to nudge a depleted RB Leipzig towards a place in next months final in Seville.
Rangers’ resolve is broken! ?
Angeliño rifles the ball in from outside the box to give Leipzig the advantage.#UEL pic.twitter.com/4UBNApwZoM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 28, 2022
Without a striker in the starting XI the visitors dug in during the first half looking for the usual good fortune that has characterised their run to the last four.
Pushing Joe Aribo into a ‘false nine’ after the break Ryan Kent flashed a few shots across goal with the German’s looking unsteady at the back without their suspended first choice central defenders.
It looked like another escape was on the cards until Angelino volleyed home from 22 yards after a corner had been headed clear.
Van Bronckhorst will now have to decide whether he puts the same group of players in against Celtic or gives some stars a rest for next Thursday’s return leg at Ibrox.
Malmo (2), Lyon, Sparta Prague, Red Star Belgrade and Braga have already beaten the Euro heroes.