Ajax and Sporting both soar with huge wins in opening Champions League matches
Ajax - Rangers 4-0
Last season’s Europa League finalists arrived in Amsterdam off the back of a humbling 4-0 Old Firm defeat at the weekend, and it quickly became clear that this match would be a similarly difficult assignment.
The first big chance of the game came when captain Dusan Tadic, making his 50th European appearance for Ajax, swung in a dangerous cross and Jurrien Timber, who had been subject to reported interest from Manchester United over the summer, headed over unmarked from point-blank range. Shortly afterwards, however, Steven Berghuis’ corner was powered home by Edson Alvarez.
The hosts won all six of their Champions League group games last term and it was easy to see why, with the quick passing and dizzying interchanging movement proving very difficult for the visitors to stop. Just after the half-hour mark, Ajax doubled their advantage as Berghuis’ side-footed effort from just outside the box deflected in off Sands, and no sooner had the Scottish giants drawn breath than it was three.
Mohammed Kudus, receiving the ball from former Rangers' man Calvin Bassey, turned away from James Tavernier before driving forward and rifling a stunning rising drive past Jon McLaughlin and in off the inside of his left-hand post.
McLaughlin did well to deny Kenneth Taylor and Tadic just before the break and Van Bronckhorst acted decisively at half-time, bringing on Rabbi Matondo, Ryan Jack and 18-year-old Leon King for his senior European debut.
Rangers were more solid in the second period, and Van Bronckhorst will have been disappointed that his side were denied a consolation when Borna Barisic’s sensational curler was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up.
Steven Bergwijn rounded off the scoring on 80 minutes though for his eighth goal in seven games since moving from Tottenham Hotspur, latching onto Ryan Jack’s stray pass, rounding McLaughlin and tucking home.
Ryan Kent’s deflected strike off the post in stoppage time capped a miserable night for Rangers, who host Napoli next Tuesday, while Ajax face Liverpool at Anfield the same day.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mohammed Kudus (Ajax)
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Eintracht Frankfurt - Sporting 0-3
Serenaded by the backing of a deafening home faithful, and making their first appearance among Europe's elite this century, hosts Frankfurt almost got off to the perfect start with less than two minutes on the clock. However, only Antonio Adan’s instincts to rush off his goal line, after Manuel Ugarte’s mistimed back-pass, prevented Randal Kolo Muani from opening his European goalscoring account for his new employers.
At the other end, Sporting launched an attack in response, as Edwards went down under Christopher Lenz’s challenge, leading Orel Grinfeld to award a penalty, only for VAR to intervene and reverse the on-field decision.
In the wake of scoring their highest-ever number of goals in a UCL group stage campaign last season, and finding the back of the net in nine of their previous ten competitive matches, Sporting continued to test the Europa League holders’ nerves with patient build-up play. Looking more dangerous, they almost took the lead ten minutes before the break, but Kevin Trapp instinctively got down at his near post to prevent Edwards from firing home after a fine solo run.
The hosts began the second half similarly to how they commenced the match, as only Luis Neto’s sublime block prevented Daichi Kamada from opening the scoring. But Sporting rallied once again, and in pursuit of their maiden European victory in Germany, Neto’s earlier goal-saving block proved vital in the 65th minute, when the menacing Edwards silenced the Deutsche Bank Park with a perfectly-executed strike past the helpless silhouette of Trapp.
Just two minutes later, Edwards turned provider for Francisco Trincao, as the on-loan Barcelona winger comfortably slotted past Trapp to double the visitors’ advantage.
Nuno Santos added extra gloss to a second-half clinical performance eight minutes from when the substitute fired past Trapp after an exquisite build-up play from Pedro Porro, sealing what was only Sporting’s second victory across seven away European matches.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt experienced the unfamiliar taste of defeat after succumbing to their first loss across five matches in all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Marcus Edwards (Sporting Lisbon)
