COLAK...1 KANE..2
England hitman Harry makes difference as new Ibrox No.9 Antonio gets off the mark – but there’s no disguising gulf in quality
Rangers’ new No.9 got off the mark with his first goal for the club.
But it was one of the best centre-forwards in the world who stole the show at Ibrox.
Harry Kane put on a masterclass of finishing and all-round striker play as he scored a double to win this friendly for Antonio Conte’s star-studded side.
And if it wasn’t for Gers keeper Allan McGregor, the Premier League outfit would probably have racked up more.
Croatian hitman Antonio Cola k had put Gio van Bronckhorst’s men in front – his first goal since joining from PAOK.
But England skipper Kane is on a different level as he proved with a brilliant brace for the
London club. You have to feel that van Bronckhorst’s starting lineup here will be the one he hopes to go with in Gers’ Premi e r sh ip op ener at Livingston on Saturday.
After cameo roles in previous friendlies, summer recruits Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence were in from the start with fellow new boy John Souttar partnering Connor Goldson.
To be fair to Conte, he also unleashed his big guns.
And the XI he put out in Govan won’t be far off the team that 1 2 kicks off their Premier League c ampa i g n at home to Southampton on August 6.
This was always going to be a proper test for Rangers.
In fact, if they wanted an insight into the standard they will face should they qualify for the Champions League group stage – this was it.
Right from the off, Spurs’ speed of play, movement and ability on the ball was evident.
The front three in particular are up there with the best on the planet. Whether it was Kane,
South Korean superstar Heung Min Son or Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski, they were a constant threat.
And they had £50million man Richarlison warming the bench.
In his trademark fashion, Kane was looking to drop deep, spin and find his two flying machines in behind.
Kulusevski got in behind Souttar early on and tested McGregor who managed to save with his legs.
Van Bronckhorst appeared to drop John Lundstram a bit deeper after that to try to cut off the supply to Kane.
And that resulted in Rangers having a period of control in the game when they pinned Spurs back into their own half. The home side were ga ining confidence and got the opening goal in 24 minutes.
Matondo got down the side of Davinson Sanchez and Ryan Sessegnon to fizz a cut-back into the box. James Tavernier’s clever flick was perfect for Colak who was unmarked to fire past Hugo Lloris from six yards.
It was a brilliantly-worked goal that clearly irked the English side who stepped up a gear before half-time.
They broke up the park almost immediately through Son who played in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – but he fired wide of McGregor’s left-hand post.
Kulusevski was then denied by the veteran Rangers keeper before Cristian Romero missed
a sitter after Eric Dier had flicked on Son’s corner.
Spurs deserved a leveller on the balance of play and should have got it through Kane.
Son picked him out superbly on the run but, under pressure from Souttar, his shot was kept out again by McGregor.
If anyone had doubts this summer about the 40-year-old’s ability to keep goal for Rangers, they were quickly being dispelled on this evidence.
But five minutes after the break, McGregor could do nothing to stop Kane’s equaliser.
Goldson probably thought he’d done enough to hold up the England striker in the box.
But Kane cut on to his right foot and whipped a stunning effort into the top corner to make it 1-1. It was the type of goal we’ve seen so often from the England star in the Premier League.
And it was a reminder of the gulf in class if you were drawing a comparison between Premier League and the Premiership.
Rangers got another reality check a few minutes later with Tottenham’s second.
Dangerous Son was allowed to drop off and pick out Kane, who was given far too much space by Rangers’ back line.
This time he put his laces through the shot, rif ling past McGregor with aplomb.
When Kane and Son were eventually replaced in 70 minutes they were given a standing ovation by the Ibrox crowd in appreciation of their quality. It’s fair to say Spurs’ back-up keeper – and ex- Celtic shot stopper – Fraser Forster wasn’t given a similarly warm reception when he came on.
Rangers sub James Sands had a golden chance to level but headed straight into Forster’s hands from point-blank range.
And that meant Spurs lifted the Walter Tull Memorial Cup at full-time.