Rangers 2-2 Dortmund (agg: 6-4): Tavernier double sends Scottish side through

James Tavernier struck twice as Rangers held Dortmund in this UEFA Europa League play-off second leg and progressed 6-4 on aggregate.

Match in brief: Hosts hold nerve

Those who expected a thriller at Ibrox were not to be disappointed. Jude Bellingham, who was outstanding in the first half, set the tone by hitting the post in the fifth minute but it was Rangers who struck first when Julian Brandt fouled Ryan Kent and Tavernier dispatched the resulting penalty.

Dortmund's reaction was impressive. Bellingham made the most of a ricochet off Connor Goldson to sweep in the equaliser then, after Scott Arfield and Alfredo Morelos were denied at the other end, Donyell Malen prodded in from Bellingham's back-heel just before the break.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side regrouped at the interval and made the decisive intervention when Tavernier drilled in following a Mats Hummels miscue. Marco Rose's Dortmund rarely appeared likely to prise two more goals thereafter, the resilient Rangers defence roared on to the finish line by the fervent home support.

Alex O'Henley, Rangers reporter

It's been another rollercoaster match between these two sides but it's Rangers that progress to the last 16 after another dramatic European night at Ibrox. Ahead through Tavernier's penalty, the hosts trailed at the interval only to rally with their captain levelling on the night to ensure progress to the last 16 for a third consecutive season.

James Thorogood, Dortmund reporter

The tie was in keeping with a season to forget on the European circuit for BVB as their consistent inconsistency once again cost them dearly. Those of a Dortmund persuasion will be the first to admit they didn't deserve to progress. Over the course of the two legs, they inflicted as much damage upon themselves as Rangers did with the real regrets stemming from the 4-2 loss on home soil.

Reaction

James Tavernier, Rangers captain: "I am delighted, especially the way we responded in the second half after the way the first half ended. You saw the quality of the players they have at the end of the first half. They put us under real pressure but we changed tactically in the second half and that really helped us, made us more solid between the lines and restricted them to a few chances."

Ryan Kent, Rangers forward: "They had to chase the game, they needed the goals today. We knew they would come at us and that did leave spaces open for us to go and exploit them. We took two chances and maybe should have had a third."

Jude Bellingham, Dortmund midfielder: "It was a brilliant game to play in. We didn't have the bite we had in the first half. It's just one of those nights. We didn't take our chances, they took theirs and fair play to them. We have let the fans, the staff and ourselves down. If we look at ourselves in the mirror we'll realise we could have done more over both legs."

Key stats

• Rangers are unbeaten in their five home UEFA club competition matches against Dortmund (W3 D2).
• The Gers have conceded two goals or more in each of their last five home games in the Europa League knockout phase.
• Dortmund have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine Europa League matches.
• The visitors have only failed to score in one of their last 12 Europa League knockout phase matches.

Line-ups

Rangers: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barišić (Balogun 46); Jack, Lundstram; Arfield (Kamara 69), Aribo, Kent; Morelos

Dortmund: Kobel; Can, Hummels, Schulz; Hazard (Reinier 69), Bellingham, Dahoud, Meunier (Wolf 46); Reus (Witsel 86), Brandt (Moukoko 69); Malen (Tigges 77)