Mon Dieu, I’ve scored!
Rangers youngster Jamie Barjonas looks incredulous after scoring the second goal in the 2-0 win over Nice which clinched the Veolia Trophy.
NICE 0 RANGERS 2
Defoe (40), Barjonas (90+2)
Steven Gerrard has won his first piece of silverware as Rangers manager.
Two 2-0 victories over French opposition saw the Ibrox club pick up the Veolia Trophy.
It’s not a competition that will mean much to Gerrard, but he will take a lot of satisfaction from the way his side’s pre-season preparations have gone.
He was looking for signs that his squad had got their post-winter break slump out of their system and they’ve been delivered.
Rangers dominated most of the possession in a game that didn’t have the same intensity as their victory over Lyon on Thursday night.
That was understandable considering it was the second game in 48 hours for both sides.
The conditions were also considerably warmer with the thermometer hitting 28 degrees in Lyon’s Groupama Stadium.
Early pre-season fixtures are normally all about fitness and integrating new players.
The extended break because of the Coronavirus pandemic means Rangers, like all Scottish clubs, are trying to recapture match fitness in a short time.
But they’re doing it with players who are well acquainted with one another.
Joe Aribo was one who looked full of running and trickery.
The midfielder could be a real asset to Rangers if he can find a bit more consistency to his game.
His performances were a bit patchy last term, but he was making the leap from League One in England to Scotland’s top flight and the Europa League.
Gerrard will hope that getting 48 games under his belt over the last 12 months will leave him better equipped to hit the ground running when the domestic campaign kicks off on August 1.
He’s capable of producing the unpredictable twist that can unlock defences.
The Nigeria internationalist nearly got his side off to a flyer after just three minutes when he burst into the penalty area and fed Defoe.
His shot was saved by the keeper but wouldn’t have counted as the veteran had strayed offside.
Nice manager Patrick Viera started the game with a number of teenagers.
The French league kicks-off this weekend and The Eagles are fine-tuning their players. A few of their more established stars appeared after the break and that made things more challenging for Rangers.
Ryan Kent – cleared to play despite his ordering-off against Lyon – looked dangerous in flashes.
He combined well with Aribo and his cut-back saw a shot from Hagi deflected just wide of goal.
Steven Gerrard made a point of giving Kent a reminder of the running he expects during the first-half drinks break.
There was a lot of inter-passing from the Scots without Cardinale having a lot of work to do in the Nice goal.
However, he was tested by a Hagi shot before Rangers went ahead with an impressive goal on the counter-attack.
Aribo was clever in finding Kamara and the former Dundee man released Kent on the right wing.
The Englishman drove towards the box and found Jermain Defoe. It was the sort of chance the 37-year-old absolutely loves and he took one touch with his right foot and then stroked it past the keeper with his left.
Both sides experimented with a host of changes after the break and some were more successful that others.
Jamie Murphy will have been pleased to get another chance to prove what he can do in a light blue jersey, although he should really have scored Rangers’ second goal before it came right at the death.
Alfredo Morelos unselfishly set up the winger, but he was less than amused when Murphy rounded the keeper and saw his shot cleared off the line.
Morelos was looking for a return pass and was well positioned to stick the ball away.
The victory was sealed with the last kick when Jamie Barjonas collected a long throw, caught the French defence napping and slipped the ball home.