Jack Butland starred as Rangers triumphed in a penalty shoot-out to knock out Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and secure a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
Fenerbahce mounted a dramatic comeback at Ibrox, overturning a 3-1 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 victory on the night, sending the tie to penalties. However, Butland’s heroics in the shoot-out proved crucial, as he saved two spot-kicks, helping Rangers secure a 3-2 win on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Mourinho was left furious after a controversial extra-time penalty decision went against his side, with the Fenerbahce manager claiming his team had been “by far the best” and deserved to progress. “We did everything to win. The ref and VAR decided we should go to penalties,” Mourinho said after the match.
Rangers, two-time Europa League runners-up, will face Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals. The Scottish side is looking to salvage a disappointing domestic season, with interim manager Barry Ferguson now in charge following Philippe Clement’s sacking.
Butland praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We fully believed we were going to get the job done. The boys dug deep, and this is the reward you get, it’s what the fans deserve.”
Despite their early dominance, Rangers couldn’t extend their first-leg advantage and fell behind when Sebastian Szymanski scored a stunning volley to give Fenerbahce a 1-0 lead. Szymanski then leveled the aggregate score, poking home with 17 minutes remaining to send the match into extra time.
The game became increasingly stretched, with both teams coming close to scoring. Mourinho was booked for his protests after a possible penalty on Mert Hakan Yandas was not awarded by the referee.
But it was Rangers who held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out, with Butland saving Dusan Tadic’s opening kick. Fenerbahce’s Irfan Can Egribayat saved Ianis Hagi’s penalty, but Butland kept out Fred’s effort, and Yandas sent his over the bar to seal Rangers’ progression.
