Match Report: Rangers Against Ajax In Wezep

It was a strong test for Philippe Clement’s men as they faced the Eredivisie side, with another good run out for the squad as preparations continued for the 2024/25 season.

Tom Lawrence was on target for Rangers with a fantastic free-kick, while there was a welcome return to the pitch for striker Danilo who had been sidelined since December with a serious knee injury.

Rangers had played at the venue before under Dick Advocaat in 2001, as the likes of Arthur Numan, Fernando Ricksen and Michael Mols featured in the 8-0 victory over a combined team of WHC and VSCO’61.

For this afternoon’s game, Jack Butland with a back four of Dujon Sterling, Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and Jefte. Mohamed Diomande, Nico Raskin and Kieran Dowell were in midfield, while Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence and Cyriel Dessers completed the line up.

The first real chance of the game fell the way of the Dutch side, as a ball was played through into the path of Kennth Taylor who had made a run into the box, but he was unable to keep his effort down as it drifted over the bar.

At the other end, Rangers carved an opportunity of their own as Tom Lawrence’s initial shot was blocked before Rabbi Matondo picked it up just inside the box and he curled the ball towards goal, but it was just wide of the post.

With 15 minutes played, Jack Butland pulled off a superb save as he got a strong hand to a goal bound header from Chuba Akpom to tip it wide of the post.

Kian Fitz-Jim did find the breakthrough for the Dutch side as the match approached the half-hour mark. The forward picked up the ball inside the box and rolled a low shot into the back of the net from a tight angle. Minutes later, Dessers sent an effort inches wide of the box after getting on the end of a Jefte cross.

Rangers were back level with 33 minutes played, as a free-kick was awarded in a dangerous position on the edge of the area. Tom Lawrence stepped-up to the set-piece and drilled a brilliant strike through the wall and into the bottom corner.

There was another free-kick before half-time, this time at the other end as Branco Van Den Boomen scored the Dutch side’s second goal of the game as he snuck the ball in at the near post.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, Rangers were forced into a change as Nico Raskin had to come off with an injury and was replaced by summer signing Connor Barron.

There were a further two changes for Rangers at the break as goalkeeper Liam Kelly came on in place of Jack Butland for his first appearance since rejoining the club, with Scott Wright also introduced in place of Rabbi Matondo.

Early in the second-half, Youri Baasheaded just over for Ajax, before Scott Wright had a fantastic chance for Rangers as he was through on goal, but the keeper made a good block to deny the forward. With 15 minutes remaining, Danilo was introduced as the striker made his return from an injury which has kept him sidelined since December.

The Brazilian had a chance shortly after as he almost got on the end of a rebound following a good strike from Scott Wright which forced a save from the goalkeeper, but Danilo was unable to get enough on the ball to turn it into the back of the net.

Liam Kelly was called into action for the first time in the final five minutes as Julian Rijkhoff headed towards goal, but it was a great stop from the Rangers goalkeeper as managed to push it away.

Again, Kelly managed to deny the Dutch side as he was able to tip a shot over the bar with his fingertips.

RANGERS: Butland (Kelly, 46), Sterling (Devine, 60), Goldson (Souttar, 60), Davies (Balogun, 60), Jefte (Ridvan, 60), Diomande (McKinnon, 60), Raskin (Barron, 43), Dowell (Fraser, 60, (Danilo, 76), Matondo (Wright, 46) Lawrence (McCausland, 60), Dessers (Lowry, 60).

Subs: Budinauckas, Nsiala, Balogun, King, Curtis, Nsio.

Ajax: Ramaj, Rensch, Medic, Baas, Wijndal, Henderson, Rasmussen, Taylor, Akpom, Van Den Boomen, Fitz-Jim

Subs: Pasveer, Reverson, Gaaei, Hato, Gooijer, Janse, Rijkhoff, Mannsverk, Forbs, Berghuis, Tahirovic, Hlynsson.

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