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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

RB Leipzig 1-0 Rangers: Angelino strikes late to sink Scottish side in Europa League semi-final first leg

RB Leipzig secured a one-goal lead at the halfway mark of their Europa League semi-final with Rangers.

Angelino hit the winner after 85 minutes in Germany to start a huge week for the Scottish side with a narrow defeat.

Rangers did come from behind to defeat Braga in the last round but are once again up against it as the tie heads to Ibrox in a week’s time.

With strikers Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe still out injured, Giovanni van Bronckhorst had again to adapt and in what looked like a 5-3-2 formation with midfielder John Lundstram moved back, he gave a start to Stephen Wright up front with Ryan Kent.

There were Rangers fans in most parts of the stadium, helping to create a terrific atmosphere but they watched their side chase shadows at the start.

A penalty claim when Christopher Nkunku could not get away from Gers defender Connor Goldson was ignored by French referee Benoit Bastien.

There was little respite for the Light Blues and in the 16th minute Calvin Bassey blocked a goal-bound shot from Nkunku before Goldson, with equal desperation, prevented Dominik Szoboszlai's shot troubling Alan McGregor.

With their first corner just before the half hour mark, Goldson headed Borna Barisic's delivery over the bar but Rangers were soon defending again with skipper James Tavernier getting in the way of a terrific strike from Angelino.

With Aribo further up after the break, Rangers had their first real chance at the start of the second half when Kent worked some space in the RB Leipzig box and fizzed the ball across the front of skipper Peter Gulacsi's goal but found no takers.

Tavernier then had a shot deflected for a corner but again Goldson headed over. At the other end, McGregor beat away a drive from Nkunku - a reminder for the Govan men of the home side's threat.

RB Leipzig took a grip and Rangers were again on the back foot but still the Ibrox side's defence defended resolutely.

Fashion Sakala replaced Wright after 68 minutes and moved into the centre-forward position but moments later the visitors should have found themselves behind.

Nkunku burst into the Rangers box and rounded McGregor but with the goal gaping he hammered the ball over the bar - it was a huge let-off for the Light Blues.

In the 75th minute Gulacsi gathered a long-distance effort from Kent before Nkunku beat Bassey to a header but again missed the target and then McGregor tipped a shot from Tyler Adams over the bar.

From the corner Sakala headed clear but only to Angelino who volleyed past the Gers keeper from 20 yards to give the home side the advantage for the game in Glasgow.

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