Rangers 1 – 3 Ajax

Rangers lost 3-1 to Ajax in their final group game in their worst game in Champions League history.

Rangers need five goals to beat Ajax to third and the Europa League, while knowing a two-goal defeat will make them the worst team in Europe.

Goals from Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and Francisco Conceicao gave the Ibrox men their sixth consecutive defeat as James Tavernier’s penalty couldn’t stop them from a goal difference of minus 20.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are the first Scottish team to lose all their group matches in Europe’s top flight, while Ajax finish third to secure a knockout spot in the Europa League gain a place in.

How Rangers ended dismal campaign with unpopular record

Putting together a team has been a challenge in itself for Van Bronckhorst, who suspended midfielder John Lundstram and injured nine players – including defender Ben Day in the weekend’s win over Aberdeen Weiss and Reidwan Yilmaz.

Left-back Borna Barisic and veterans Steve Davis and Scott Arfield are on the bench.

Former Gers defender Calvin Bassey was a formidable Ajax team that struck out early to dampen early home optimism.

In the 4th minute, Kudus’s beautiful attack on the left ended. Kudus passed the ball for Belhuis on the edge of the penalty area and saved the goalkeeper Alan McGregor.

It was already ominous for Rangers – McGregor had to back up to grab a Berghuis lob from under his crossbar – but the underpowered home side finally calmed down and started looking Equalizer.

In the 13th minute, winger Ryan Kent (Ryan Kent) crossed from the left, the Brazil screened headed goal, Fashion Sakala (Fashion Sakala) headed the goal.

However, another error of concentration allowed Ajax to extend their lead, this time from Kudus passer Irving Wijndal – whose deflected shot went off teenage defender Leon King Come down and beat McGregor.

The goalkeeper made a fine save from Steven Bergwijn a few minutes later, before the first frustrated boos from the stands came shortly after when Kudus shot just wide of the far post.

The half-time whistle blew and more boos rang out, but the fans tried to cheer themselves up at the start of the second half, despite the slim chance of a comeback.

Kudus put the ball into the net in the 55th minute but Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg ruled it offside after a VAR check.

Just before the game, Glen Kamara, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Wright came on for Davies, Antonio Colac and Malik Tillman, but Ajak came on Sterling remained in control of the game with strong and raucous travel support.

In the 70th minute, Ajax goalkeeper Remko Passwell kicked a brilliant shot from Alfield over the bar, but the corner was blocked.

In the 84th minute, Morelos took advantage of Passwell’s error, but failed to hit the target and the goal was wide open.

Moments later, Rangers substitute Kent’s Rabbi Matondo was brought down by Edson Alvarez in the penalty area and Tavernier took the penalty.

However, with just one minute on the pitch, Conseco shot from close range and referee Nyberg quickly blew the whistle to mark the end of the Glasgow club’s campaign that has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons.

what the manager said

Giovanni van Bronckhorst wants his players to learn from a tough battle:

“You know the gap is there, but you don’t want to concede so many goals to you.

“If you see us conceding in many games this season, especially at home against Liverpool, where we struggled in those moments, it was an important learning experience for us.”

What’s next?

Sunday, November 6 at 11:00 am

Start at 12:00 noon

Rangers have three Scottish Premier League games left before the World Cup. They travel to St Johnstone on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off at 12pm. Rangers take on Hearts on Wednesday 9 November; starts at 7.45pm.

Their last game before the game is on Saturday 12 November when they travel to St Mirren, live on Sky Sports; starts at 12.30pm.

Ajax still have three Eredivisie games ahead of the World Cup, PSV PSV, Vitesse Arnhem and Emmen.