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Rangers’ James Tavernier makes history with opener vs RB Leipzig

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3 years ago

1:34 am

Rangers’ James Tavernier makes history with opener vs RB Leipzig

Rangers star James Tavnerier has etched his name into club folklore on Thursday night, amid the club’s meeting with RB Leipzig.

The Light Blues, of course, are currently locked in action on the continent.

On the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first-leg of their Europa League semi-final showdown with Bundesliga outfit Leipzig, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men returned to Ibrox, no doubt confident in their chances of overturning the deficit to book a spot in this month’s showpiece clash.

And, as things stand in Glasgow, a finale berth is precisely what the evening’s hosts are headed towards, owing to a 2-0 advantage at the interval.

Rangers’ first of the night came by way of the aforementioned Tavernier, before Glen Kamara turned the tie firmly on its head courtesy of a pinpoint left-footed finish:

The calmest man in Glasgow! ?
Glen Kamara strokes the ball home and there’s a nod to Jimmy Bell as he celebrates.
Rangers are in control at Ibrox! ?#UEL pic.twitter.com/KSvILvBO7T
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 5, 2022

And, as alluded to above, the first of the Gers’ two goals thus far on Thursday did not only prove significant in putting the Scottish heavyweights in front.

In addition, it saw captain James Tavernier establish himself as both the Europa League’s leading scorer this season, and the new record-holder for most goals ever scored by a Rangers star across a single campaign in a major European competition:

7 – Rangers right-back James Tavernier is now the outright top scorer in this season’s UEFA Europa League proper, with his seven goals also now the most ever by a Rangers player in a single season in a major European competition (excl. qualifiers). Heaven. pic.twitter.com/m2PLe1aXbI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 5, 2022

Eintracht on top

Elsewhere, in the Europa League’s other final-four tie, David Moyes’ West Ham United have endured a considerably less productive evening to date.

The Irons, on the back of a 2-1 first-leg defeat in London, trail Eintracht Frankfurt by a solitary goal once more, owing to Rafael Borré’s simple finish:

Rafael Borré is on hand for the finish. ?
Frankfurt take the lead over 10-men West Ham. ? pic.twitter.com/7U0xnMktcU
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 5, 2022

Not only that, but the efforts of Moyes’ troops to get back into things will come with just ten men, after Aaron Cresswell was sent for an early bath for a last-man foul on Jens Petter Hauge.