Ajax vs Rangers LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as Ajax notch comfortable win
Ajax 4-0 Rangers: Gers lose heavily in their first Champions League match in 12 years
Ajax built a commanding early lead before overwhelming Rangers 4-0 in Champions League Group A at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus scored in a one-sided first half and Steven Bergwijn added the fourth 10 minutes from time to complete the rout.
It was a dominant display from a new-look Ajax, who sold several key players over the summer, and lost head coach Erik ten Hag to Manchester United, but still proved far too strong for the Scottish side - last season’s Europa League runners-up.
Borna Barisic did have a goal disallowed for the Gers after an offside in the build-up but they were largely outclassed.
Relive all the action as Ajax beat Rangers in the Champions League:
Full-time: Ajax 4-0 Rangers
90+3 mins: It’s been a shocking and hurtful return to the Champions League for Rangers. They’ve been played off the park by Ajax with the Dutch champions putting them to the sword on an incredibly one-sided night in Amsterdam.
The Scottish side need to regroup and refocus ahead of their next group match against Napoli. The games comes thick and fast this year and another defeat there will surely put their hopes of a spot in the knockouts out of reach.
Ajax 4-0 Rangers
90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play in Amsterdam. Rangers just want to get off the pitch now.
Ajax 4-0 Rangers
86 mins: Steven Bergwijn injured himself during his goal, he seemed to stretch too far taking the ball around the goalkeeper and pulled his celebration up short clutching his leg.
The forward is taken off with Lucas Ocampos brought on the take his place.
He is fed into the box by Taylor and drives a shot straight into the hands of McLaughlin.
Ajax 4-0 Rangers
83 mins: Rangers have conceded eight goals in two games now. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has some defensive issues to solve before their next Champions League fixture against Napoli.
If he doesn’t solve it then Rangers are staring down five very tricky fixtures.
GOAL! Ajax 4-0 Rangers (80’, Bergwijn)⚽️
80 mins: There’s his goal! It’s a shocker from Ryan Jack who misplaces a pass back to his defensive line and gives it to Steven Bergwijn who is hovering in space.
Bergwijn taps it around McLaughlin who sprints off his line then guides the ball into the open net.
Ajax 3-0 Rangers
76 mins: The disallowed goal has just made Ajax slightly more wary. They’re not giving Rangers any chance of taking the ball off them until they’re deep in the final third.
NO GOAL! Ajax 3-0 Rangers
72 mins:The goal is chalked off! VAR took a look at the goal and saw that Ryan Kent was slightly offside as John Lundstram’s long ball came over the top.
Rangers’ bad night continues.
GOAL! Ajax 3-1 Rangers (71’, Barisic)⚽️
71 mins: Glorious finish! Rangers fizz a long diagonal ball over to Ryan Kent on the left wing and he carries the ball into the left side of the penalty area.
Two Ajax defenders close him down but he prods the ball to Borna Barisic who takes a touch and curls a lovely right-footed effort into the far top corner.
Ajax 3-0 Rangers
69 mins: Steven Bergwijn receives the ball on the left side of the pitch and brings it inside before lacing a shot straight into the arms of Jon McLaughlin.
The former Tottenham man is hungry for a goal tonight.
Ajax 3-0 Rangers
66 mins: Ryan Jack collects the first yellow card of the game after he slides in late and takes the legs out from under Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic.
At the other end of the pitch Rabbi Matondo swings a cross into the middle and Ryan Kent has a chance to poke one at goal. He’s under pressure from Jurrien Timber but manages to get a touch on the ball.
Saldy for Rangers the effort goes wide.
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