Rangers 1 - 1 Ajax Tues 24/07/07

Carlos Cuellar 19

RANGERS have drawn 1-1 with Ajax in the opening home game of the season and were given a strong work out by the Dutch giants.

Carlos Cuellar marked his debut with a goal when he put the Light Blues ahead after 19 minutes, but John Heitinga equalised for the visitors just after the hour mark.

After four away matches - three in Germany and one against Falkirk last weekend - the fans finally got to see some of the new signings in action on home soil and it was a highly competitive 'friendly' encounter.

Walter Smith's side produced a great move in Alex Totten's testimonial on Saturday to open the scoring after only 22 seconds and they almost beat that this evening with another rehearsed attack.

Adam played a long diagonal ball from kick off to Lee McCulloch on the right wing and his cushioned pass into Jean-Claude Darcheville sat up perfectly, but the Frenchman fired just over the bar after nine seconds.

Ajax left midfielder Urby Emanuelson showed an impressive flash of skill with four minutes gone to mount the visitors' first attack of the night.

After dancing past three Rangers players he released Kennedy down the right and is low cross ball looked to be inch-perfect for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar but Carols Cuellar read it well to clear for a throw in.

Brahim Hemdani's quick free-kick to McCulloch after 18 minutes caught the Ajax defence static and the former Wigan frontman jinked past his man before his cross was deflected for a corner. Adam delivered the resultant set-piece and Cuellar raced in unmarked to nod home his first goal for the club.

McCulloch came inches within adding a second for Gers three minutes later when he flashed a low shot from the right angle past the post.

Allan McGregor was called into action after 39 minutes to deny Kennedy the equaliser after he curled a shot from the edge of the box. The Gers number one reacted well to punch clear, denying Huntelaar the follow up.

Darcheville has yet to find the net for his new club, but has proved in the last three outings he has plenty of passion. After doing brilliantly to dispossess George Ogararu, JCD was then unfairly challenged and earned a booking for his fiery reaction.

Boyd was at the centre of Gers' opening chance of the second half and his header forced Maarten Stekelenburg into an excellent save. Hutton collected McCulloch's throw in 25 yards out and whipped in a curling cross from the right, which Boyd powered goal-bound but the Ajax keeper tipped over his bar from close range.

The visitors brought themselves back into the match on 61 minutes when the impressive Kennedy powered down the right to drill a low cross into the box, which Heitinga stabbed home.

DaMarcus Beasley and Chris Burke were introduced to play and the American made an immediate impact almost setting up Boyd. After being played through into the box he did well to evade a challenge from the Ajax keeper, before spinning and crossing to the back post. Boyd was waiting but Stekelenburg recovered well to push his shot wide for a corner.

McGregor kept Rangers in it with 11 minutes remaining when he blocked Kennedy's shot. The midfielder was through one on one but the Scotland internationaol charged down his effort to keep the scoreline level.

RANGERS: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Papac (Broadfoot 50), Ferguson, McCulloch (Beasley 60), Hemdani, Adam, Darcheville (Burke 60), Boyd (Sebo 75),

Subs Not Used: Carroll, Webster, Murray, Novo, Gow, Sionko,

Ref: Kenny Clarket

Man-of-the-match: Carlos Cuellar

Attendance: 32,770