Rangers Edge Fenerbahce On Aggregate In Penalty Shootout

Rangers secured a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League Round of 16, following a 2-1 defeat in regular time. The match, played at Ibrox Stadium, saw Fenerbahce level the aggregate score 3-3, forcing the game into extra time and eventually penalties.

The tie was evenly poised after the first leg, which ended 1-1 at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on March 6, 2025. Rangers’ Ryan Kent scored in the 40th minute, while Fenerbahce’s Enner Valencia equalized just two minutes later.

In the second leg, Sebastian Szymanski scored in both halves for Fenerbahce, with goals in the 45th and 73rd minutes. Rangers’ Ryan Kent scored in the 8th minute, but the Scottish side was unable to find the back of the net again in regular time.

The penalty shootout saw Rangers’ goalkeeper Jack Butland emerge as the hero, helping his team secure a 1-2 penalty shootout victory.

Rangers’ head coach Barry Ferguson praised his team’s character, saying, “One thing I’ve got to say about my group of players is that something that’s been labelled against them is a short character… They kept going, took it to extra time”.

Fenerbahce boss Ismail Kartal felt his team deserved to win, stating, “We deserved to win over 90 minutes, we deserved to win after 120 minutes… The ref and the VAR decided that we should go to penalties”.

*Match Details:*

– _Date:_ March 13, 2025

– _Venue:_ Ibrox Stadium

– _Score:_ Rangers 2-1 Fenerbahce (3-3 aggregate, 1-2 on penalties)

– _Goals:_ Ryan Kent (8′), Sebastian Szymanski (45′, 73′)

– _Attendance:_ 50,061

Rangers will face Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarterfinals, with the Spanish side awaiting the Scottish club in the next round.