Rangers’ first Champions League campaign in 12 years ended with the infamy of a new meaningless group stage record.
Rangers needed an improbable five-goal swing to beat Ajax into third place and into the Europa League. What they got was another painful reminder of the ruthless quality in this tournament.
Goals from Steven Berghuis, Mohamed Kadus and Francisco Conceicao made it six consecutive defeats for the Ibrox men, as James Tournier’s penalty left them with a minus-20 goal difference.
Rangers are the first Scottish team to go through the group stage without a point and become the 22nd team in the competition’s history to do so.
Dinamo Zagreb previously held the unpopular worst record with a minus-19 goal difference in the 2011-12 season – matched by Viktoria Plzen in that period but eclipsed by the Scottish Premiership side.
Injuries have plagued Rangers but the gulf between the Glasgow side and their Group A opponents has been stark.
The air was still thick with smoke from Ajax fans’ pre-match pyrotechnics when the visitors attacked. A clever move opened up the Rangers defence, with Kadus providing clean space for Berghuis past Alan McGregor.
The home side responded in determined fashion, with former Ibrox favorite Kelvin Bassey denying his old team-mate Fashion Sakala with a goal-line clearance.
However, further defensive frailties were exposed when Kadus was given too much time inside the penalty area and his shot was deflected wide by Leon King.
Ajax were now full of confidence and made a good diving save from McGregor to deny Steven Bergwin, before the same player drilled an angled shot narrowly wide.
This passage of play led to loud cheers from the home fans who were fed up with the lack of appeal from their side and there was another scare just before half-time as the Saints were mis-hit by Berghuis in a strike. was about to change.
Supporters had to be content with a largely dreadful second half dealing with the odd challenge as the hosts fought their way back and Ajax dropped their tempo.
The impressive Quds were denied a second goal after a VAR check for offside, while Scott Arfield’s dipping volley had to be tipped over by Remko Passover.
Alfredo Morelos then somehow curled his shot wide of an open goal before Rabi Mitondo was bundled over with an 87th-minute penalty, which Tournier converted for just Rangers’ second goal in those six outings. Put in the middle.
It looked like ending the dreadful record until Conceicao was allowed to step forward and drill in a third for Ajax.
