IT was an action packed afternoon as Rangers Legends and World Legends played out an entertaining 90 minutes in front of the Ibrox faithful, with the visitors running out 4-3 winners in the Weekend of Legends II match today.
Two goals from Jermain Defoe and a Kris Boyd strike as the two forwards both got on target for the Light Blues, with Robin van Persie getting on the scoresheet twice himself for the visitors as well as goals from Jack Wilshere and a stunning Luis Boa Morte strike which kept the home supporters engaged on the day.
Jack Wilshere had an early chance for the visitors after finding himself in behind the Rangers backline, but his loose touch allowed keeper Ronald Waterreus to narrow the angle and gather as he looked to roll the ball past him on his left side.
Rangers then opened the scoring just short of the quarter of an hour mark. Alan Hutton played a delightful cross into the path of Jermain Defoe and, in typical fashion, he was ice cold in front of goal as he took the ball out of the air with his left foot before chipping the ball over David James from close range to put the Gers ahead.
The Worlds Legends went close to an instant response through Yakubu as Robin Van Persie played an expert pass in behind the Gers backline with the outside of his left foot. The Nigerian took it in his path, but he could only slide his right-footed effort past the far post as it sailed wide.
The away side equalised through the Dutchman as Stewart Downing played a left-footed delivery from the right channel and the former Manchester United man glanced his header beyond Waterreus to level up proceedings at Ibrox.
The World Legends went ahead on the day through Jack Wilshere as two former Arsenal players combined. Van Persie was again involved, this time playing a threaded through ball to allow the Englishman to round Waterreus and put the visitors in front as they turned the game around.
Rangers had a golden chance to level up the contest once again. Hutton’s dangerous delivery to the back post was met by Kenny Miller who saw his header hit the hand of Michael Dawson as he was on the slide. Jermain Defoe stepped up and saw his initial right footed strike from 12 yards saved well by David James before the striker reacted first to tap home the rebound on his left side as the Light Blues levelled up the match before half time.
Luis Boa Morte produced a moment of magic as the visitors went ahead again at the start of the second half. Picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, he struck a left footed shot that found the top left corner, beating fellow substitute Roy Carroll in the Rangers goal as the World Legends retook the lead.
No sooner in the contest it was all-square at three-a-piece. Defoe this time linked up with Kris Boyd who appeared as a half-time substitute and, after finding himself in the area, he saw his initial strike kept out well before smashing in the rebound from the angle as the Ibrox faithful saw a sixth goal on the day.
The World Legends retook the lead once again with 75 minutes on the clock. Jermaine Pennant found himself in space at the edge of the penalty box, with his initial effort kept out by Carroll who tipped the left footed shot onto the post before van Persie was again on hand to tap in his second of the day as the visitors added a fourth to seal the victory.
RANGERS LEGENDS: Waterreus, Papac, Alves, Amoruso, Hutton, Ferguson, Mendes, McCann, De Boer, Defoe, Miller
SUBS: Carroll, Arveladze, Wallace, Jelavic, Boyd, Vignal, Hendry, Rae, Albertz, Lovenkrands, Andrews, Johansson, Cousin, Beattie
WORLD LEGENDS: James, Huth, Stam, Dawson, Chimbonda, Essien, Petit, Downing, Wilshere, Van Persie, Yakubu
SUBS: Rachubka, Kanu, Boa Morte, Kinkladze, Brown, Pennant