Ajax

Goals from Edson Álvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn gave Ajax an emphatic 4-0 win over a dismal Rangers in Amsterdam.

Rangers lack of defiance pointed to Van Bronckhorst, strangely, being unable to rouse his troops despite this being a glamour occasion against one of the continent’s A-list names. Kudus passed to Berghuis and his effort beat McLaughlin via a ricochet off Sands – a midfielder asked to fill in at centre-back. The Ajax team were as vibrant as Johan Cruyff Arena had been when transformed into the flag-waving cauldron that greeted Rangers’ ending of a 12-year absence from this stage of the competition. If there was a number to rate the invention of their opponents then zero would not have been unfair on Rangers, whose manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, seemed to have instructed them to sit as far back as possible and hope that they could somehow conjure a goal. Had Van Bronckhorst given his charges a roasting at the interval? [Rangers](https://www.theguardian.com/football/rangers) go from here in a Group A that also features Napoli and Liverpool may not be pretty.

Rangers suffered a chastening return to the Champions League after a 12-year absence as Ajax ran riot in a 4-0 win in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Just like at Celtic Park at the weekend a two-goal deficit quickly became three for Rangers when Kudus's storming run found the finish to match as he smashed in off the far post. Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn were on target for the Dutch champions as they shrugged off the loss of a number of key players in the transfer window. Amsterdam (AFP) – Rangers suffered a chastening return to the Champions League after a 12-year absence as Ajax ran riot in a 4-0 win in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Ajax Amsterdam built a commanding early lead before overwhelming Rangers 4-0 in Champions League Group A at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday.

I've seen a team that's done it with unity, that's the most important thing." A coach can pat himself on the back, but that's total nonsense. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Follow the action live as Ajax start their Champions League campaign against Rangers, who are back in the group stage after a 12-year absence.

Then Rangers enter the Ajax box for the first time, also failing to make the advance meaningful. Rangers lost the derby against Celtic 4-0 on Saturday, then watched their arch-rivals in Glasgow suffer a 3-0 mauling by reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid on Tuesday. 90 mins from kickoff: Ajax won all three of their games here as part of a perfect Champions League group stage last season. Ally McCoist, the manager who was in charge of Rangers when they were on their way back to the Scottish Premiership between 2011 and 2014, sounds a little misty-eyed. Ajax win a corner down the left. Terrific to watch — Rangers can only watch and chase. Ajax are yet to find their range but have had the better opportunities. Tadic tries to loft a ball onto the run of Bergwijn from the right. Ajax slightly resemble a heavyweight boxer preferring to canter around the ring rather than floor their opponent again. Rangers are ultimately denied a goal because of an offside call. Alvarez is the latest Ajax player to make way. At Celtic Park, Rangers conceded three times in 25 first-half minutes.

Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis and lively forwards Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn were the scorers for Ajax at Johan Cruijff Arena, continuing the Dutch ...

Borna Barišić had a goal for Rangers ruled out by VAR for an offside in the build-up and Bergwijn wrapped up a convincing win in the 80th by pouncing on a loose pass backward from Ryan Jack to round the goalkeeper and slot into an empty net. Rangers was unfortunate to fall further behind in the 32nd when Berghuis’ shot took a deflection off defender James Sands to deceive goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and spin into the net. The Scottish club conceded three goals in the opening 33 minutes and was toyed with in the second half of a 4-0 loss at Ajax on Wednesday.

Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis and lively forwards Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn were the scorers for Ajax at Johan Cruijff Arena, continuing the Dutch ...

Borna Barišić had a goal for Rangers ruled out by VAR for an offside in the build-up and Bergwijn wrapped up a convincing win in the 80th by pouncing on a loose pass backward from Ryan Jack to round the goalkeeper and slot into an empty net. Rangers was unfortunate to fall further behind in the 32nd when Berghuis’ shot took a deflection off defender James Sands to deceive goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and spin into the net. The Scottish club conceded three goals in the opening 33 minutes and was toyed with in the second half of a 4-0 loss at Ajax on Wednesday.

Jon McLaughlin: Big call by the manager to keep faith in his goalkeeper. No chance of getting to Alvarez' header for the opening goal.

Was on the receiving end of a crunching challenge that amazingly went unpunished in the first half but that aside Rensch had him in his back pocket. Moved back to form a back five in the second half as Rangers looked to limit the damage. Guilty of poor decision making at various points and a lack of urgency in a defensive sense to stem the constant flow of Ajax attacks. The Finn has been a standout performer for Rangers many times in Europe but he was more of a liability tonight. Was far more comfortable as Rangers moved to a back five at the start of the second half. Exposed time after time in the first half but looked far more steady as Rangers reinforced the backline after the break.

Ajax Amsterdam are showing no ill effects from the sale of several key players in the off-season, as well as the departure of coach Erik ten Hag, ...

I thought Dusan Tadic went well on the right hand side but he is probably better on the left, but I’m not taking Steven Bergwijn away from there,” added Schreuder. "A coach can pat himself on the back, but that's total nonsense. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com