Rangers held on for a 2-2 draw against the Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund at Ibrox to complete a memorable upset over the German side and reach the Europa League Round of 16 after a 6-4 aggregate win.
After stunning their opponents 4-2 at the Westfalenstadion last week, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men turned in a professional display to see their side home in front of a roaring Glasgow crowd over a breathless 90 minutes.
Rangers pressed high from the getgo but were soon given a scare by last season’s Champions League quarter-finalists inside five minutes when Jude Bellingham barged into the box and crashed the ball off the right-hand upright.
Rangers then took control of the contest as defender James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Ryan Kent was tripped by Julian Brandt inside the box.
Dortmund, who were without the services of Erling Haaland, fought back from that 22nd-minute setback adding two goals before half-time through Jude Bellingham and Donyell Malen to take the lead on the night.
A switch to back five from Van Bronckhorst after the half-time stifled the Bundesliga side. And just over 10 minutes after the break, Tavernier equalized for Rangers with his second of the night, lashing in a volley after connecting with an inviting cross from Calvin Bassey.
6 – Rangers are the first side to score 6+ goals against Borussia Dortmund across a two-legged European knockout tie since Monaco did so in the quarter-finals of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League (6-3 on aggregate). Free-flowing. pic.twitter.com/Sp9UwyFY81
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 24, 2022
The Scottish champions could have breathed even easier if not for having a goal ruled out midway through the second half after by VAR. But it mattered little as Rangers held on for a famous victory.
The upset win over Dortmund puts Rangers into the Europa League last 16 for the third successive season.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will learn their next opponents in the draw in Nyon on Friday.
