Ghana Black Stars Player Mohammed Kudus Shines As Ajax Thrash Scottish Giants Rangers in Champions League

• Rangers were given a rude awakening on their return to the Champions League after Ajax dismantled them in their first game since 2010
• The Scottish side were completely subdued in the first half as Ajax scored three well-taken goals to take an early hold of Group A
• Ghana Black Stars'midfielder put in a man of the match display as Ajax now head to Anfield next week for a crunch tie against Liverpool

Ajax began their 2022/2023 Champions League season in style by beating Rangers 4-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday evening.

Mohammed Kudus was the toast of the show as the Dutch heavyweights saw off the Europa League finalists to send out an early statement of intent.

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In a group that has other big teams in Liverpool and Napoli, Alfred Schreuder's side left little to chance in their quest to qualify for the next round.

Rangers were completely subdued in the first half, with Ajax having 11 attempts on goal. It was Rangers' first showing at the Champions League since 2010 and they quickly found themselves on the back foot after Edson Alvarez headed in a Steven Berghuis corner in the 17th minute.

Kudus then stepped up to run the show by supplying Berghuis with the ball on the edge of the area, who unleashed a teasing effort that was deflected in by James Sands.

The Ghana international then shrugged off a challenge from James Tavernier before thrusting forward with real intent. He then whipped in a shot that went straight into the left-hand of the visitor's goal to take the score to 3-0.

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Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst made a triple change at halftime, which helped his side maintain some solidity at the back. They were unfortunate to be denied a goal by the Video Assistant Referee after Borna Barisic's sensational striker was chalked off for offside.

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn then scored the fourth goal to condemn Rangers to a harsh reality check on their return to the big stage.

Tariq Lamptey confirms his switch to Ghana national team

Sports Brief had earlier reported that former England U21 defender Tariq Lamptey has finally reacted to his nationality switch ahead of his Black Stars debut later this month.

The Brighton and Hove Albion right-back has been named in Ghana's squad for the international friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.

And in a video posted on social media, Lamptey expressed delight in switching nationalities to represent Ghana.