Fenerbahçe’s Europa League journey came to a heartbreaking end on March 13, as Rangers advanced to the quarterfinals following a dramatic penalty shootout at Ibrox.
The Turkish giants overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit in Istanbul with a spirited 2-0 victory in Glasgow, only to fall 3-2 on penalties, with Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland emerging as the hero.
Butland made two crucial saves in the shootout, denying Jose Mourinho a memorable comeback as Fenerbahçe’s European campaign came to a close.
Mourinho: “We Were the Best Team by Far”
A visibly frustrated Mourinho was left incensed by a contentious extra-time penalty decision that was waved away despite VAR review.
“We did everything to win. The ref and the VAR decided that we should go to penalties,” Mourinho told TNT Sports. “In the first match, I was honest and said we made mistakes and deserved to lose. But in this one, we were by far the best team.”
The Portuguese tactician was shown a yellow card for animated protests after Mert Hakan Yandaş appeared to be clipped by Nicolas Raskin inside the box during extra time—an incident that went unpunished.
Fenerbahçe’s Fierce Fightback
Fenerbahçe’s performance at Ibrox was filled with resolve and attacking intent. They grabbed the lead just before halftime through Sebastian Szymański, who acrobatically volleyed home to tilt momentum in the visitors’ favor.
The Polish midfielder struck again in the 73rd minute, slipping the ball past Butland to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate and send the contest into extra time.
Both teams came close to finding a winner in the final stages. Rangers’ captain James Tavernier was denied by a fine save from Irfan Can Eğribayat, while Fenerbahçe continued to press for a decisive goal.
Butland’s Brilliance Seals It
In the penalty shootout, it was Butland who delivered when it mattered most, saving two of Fenerbahçe’s efforts to secure a 3-2 win on spot-kicks and send Rangers through to the last eight.
The Glasgow side, runners-up in 2008 and 2022, will now face Spain’s Athletic Bilbao in the quarterfinals.
“We fully believed we were going to get the job done,” said Butland. “The boys dug deep and this is the reward. It’s what the fans deserve.”
Rangers Bounce Back
Rangers’ triumph comes amid a turbulent domestic season. With Barry Ferguson installed as interim manager following Philippe Clement’s departure, the Scottish side is now looking to salvage silverware through European success.
Despite their exit, Fenerbahçe can take pride in a gutsy performance and a second-leg showing that reaffirmed their quality under Mourinho. However, the defeat adds to a growing list of controversial exits in European play for the veteran manager, who was bidding for another continental crown.