RANGERS
AJAX
V
GERS IN EUROPE v DUTCH
SIDES
H
A
1959-60 European Cup Sparta Rotterdam
0-1
3-2
1959-60 European Cup Sparta Rotterdam REM
3-2
1968-69 Fairs Cup DWS Amsterdam
2-0
2-1
1972-73 Super Cup AFC Ajax
1-3
2-3
1977-78 Cup Winners Cup Twente Enschede
0-0
0-3
1978-79 European Cup PSV Eindhoven
0-0
3-2
1996-97 Champions League AFC Ajax
-
1-4
TUESDAY, j'an 18. «77
SEASON COMP OPPOSITION
a thrilling game in which the class of the
Dutch ultimately proved decisive, goals
from Rep (34), Cruyff (45) and Haan (76)
to a reply from MacDonald (41gave Ajax
a 3-1 victory.
In the scheduled return in
Amsterdam two weeks later, a crowd of
around 40,000 saw Rangers snatch the
opener in the second minute through
MacDonald to narrow the aggregate
score.
Ajax pulled that goal back only for
Young to restore Rangers' lead, before
Muhren and Cruyff finally gave the Dutch
a 3-2 win and a 6-3 aggregate victory.
Rangers lost, but won many friends
in a contest which was much closer than
the aggregate scoreline suggests. It was
a fitting celebration of the club's
Centenary that they should entertain the
best at Ibrox and at the end of that first leg
match the stadium was awash with the
glow from a thousand fireworks.
Tonight Rangers welcome Ajax to
Ibrox once again looking for revenge for
the defeat a fortnight ago, but also
remembering the events of 1973. This
time they will look to ignite some fireworks
in their play.
No matter the result the sides will
part with mutual respect and fond memo
ries - just as they did all these years ago.
35
