Angeliño’s wonder goal gives Leipzig 1-0 win over Rangers
RB Leipzig defeat Glasgow Rangers in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final | RBL dominate first half but no goals before the break | Angeliño finds the back of the net late on
Halfway there! Angeliño scored the only goal of the game in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi final between RB Leipzig and Glasgow Rangers. The second leg will take place in a week, on 5th May (21:00 CEST) at Ibrox Stadium.
The visitors operated with a back five and placed their focus on defence. As a result, RB Leipzig had a lot of possession but struggled to find space in the opposition half. The best chances of the first half fell to Christopher Nkunku, who couldn’t connect properly with a volley from Benjamin Henrichs’ cross (17’), and Angeliño, whose volley was blocked after a cross from Dominik Szoboszlai (31’).
After the change of ends, Christopher Nkunku came close again, but saw his effort saved by Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor (53’). In the 70th minute, the forward had the best chance of the game to open the scoring after he rounded McGregor but shot over the bar with an open goal. A little later, he headed over from a deep Angeliño cross towards the back post.
With the game drawing to a close and the scores still tied, Angeliño made the difference. After a corner was headed away by a Rangers defender, the full back struck the ball perfectly from outside the area, his volley bouncing on its way past McGregor and into the back of the net (85’). The strike was the only goal of the game and gives Leipzig a narrow advantage to take to Scotland next week.
See also
Match-Facts:
- Angeliño scored his 3rd goal of the season, his first in European competition.
- Angeliño's match-winning goal was also his 1st goal in the UEFA Europa League and his 12th in total for RB Leipzig.
- Tyler Adams played his 100th competitive match for RB Leipzig, his 19th in Europe.
- Konrad Laimer played his 15th game for RBL in the UEFA Europa League - a club record.
- It was RBL's 16th win in 2022 - no German team has won more games during this calendar year.
- Péter Gulácsi kept a clean sheet for the 2nd time in the Europa League and the 14th time across all competitions this season.
- U19 player David Lelle made the matchday squad for the first time in his career.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi (C) – Angeliño, Adams, Klostermann, Szoboszlai (71' Forsberg), Nkunku (89' Poulsen), Halstenberg, Olmo (71' Silva), Laimer, Gvardiol, Henrichs (89' Mukiele)
RANGERS:
McGregor - Tavernier (C), Bassey, Lundstram, Goldson, Jack (83. Sands), Kent, Aribo (83. Arfield), Kamara, Wright (69. Sakala), Barisic
REFEREE:
Benoit Bastien (France)
GOAL:
1-0 Angeliño (85')
YELLOW CARDS:
Goldson (90'+2), Tavernier (90'+3)
ATTENDANCE:
40,303 RB Arena | Home section sold out
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Underway. Let's go, boys!
5th minute:
RBL attack from the off, but with the visitors operating a five-man back line, spaces in the opposition half are hard to come by. The first shot of the game is a long-distance effort from Konni Laimer.
10th minute:
RBL are controlling the possession with Rangers happy to sit back and allow the home side most of the ball.
15th minute:
Angeliño looks to attack from the left but his cross is blocked.
17th minute:
A switch from the left finds Henrichs, who plays inside to Nkunku in the middle, but the forward tries to shoot first time and doesn’t make good contact. His second effort is blocked by a Rangers defender.
18th minute:
RBL are getting closer to the opener! Laimer plays a good one-two and attacks the space through the middle. He gets into the area but Goldson matches his run and produces a great block at the last minute.
25th minute:
Leipzig continue to put on the pressure. However, the Rangers defence has remained solid so far.
30th minute:
Rangers get down the other end for the first time. A corner from Wright is headed wide by Goldson.
31st minute:
RBL’s best attack so far! A quick counter through Szoboszlai sees the Hungarian cross into the middle and the ball lands with Angeliño. He shoots first time on the volley, but it’s blocked again by a Rangers defender.
38th minute:
After almost being caught out on the counter, the visitors sit deeper again and have all their players in their own half.
Half time:
The first quarter of the tie is done! No goals for either side so far.
Second half highlights
46th minute:
No changes from either coach at the break. Here we go in the second half.
49th minute:
Rangers come close for the first time. Kent gets into the area on the left and gets down the blindside after some good skill. His shot goes narrowly wide of the far right-hand post.
53rd minute:
Christo Nkunku has the ball on the edge of the area and shoots, but McGregor makes no mistake.
60th minute:
Rangers seem to be a less cautious than they were in the first half, but are still sitting deep in their own half and making space difficult for RBL to find in their half.
62nd minute:
Konrad Laimer with a low shot from the edge of the area, but it’s not very powerful and too central. No problem for the goalkeeper.
68th minute:
Just over 20 minutes left in the first leg. Rangers’ set-up today would indicate that thewy’d behappy with a 0-0 scoreline. It’s still a close affair here.
70th minute:
Big chance for Christo! He dribbles in the area and rounds goalkeeper McGregor, but he is slightly off balance when he shoots and puts the ball over the bar. That was the biggest chance of the game.
76th minute:
Another chance for the visitors, Kent again. It’s no problem for Gulácsi.
79th minute:
Nkunku with a half chance. Angeliño's cross from deep loops down near the far post in the sex-yard box, and Christo can’t get over it to head on target. Over the bar from close range.
85th minute, GOOOAAAL for Leipzig!
THERE IT IS! Adams’ strong effort forces a good save from McGregor and RBL have a corner. The ball into the box is headed away by a defender, but Angeliño meets it on the volley and fires the ball home into the left corner from over 20 metres out.
Full time
Final whistle. Angeliño’s late volley gives RBL a narrow lead heading into the second leg next week!