RANGERS week long camp of Italy came to its conclusion this evening as they fell to a 4-0 defeat to a strong AC Milan side in a friendly match.
After competing well in the early parts and for a lot of spells in the game, a couple of first half mistakes were punished as the host took a three-goal lead into the interval. The visitors again competed well in the second period but a goal towards the last 10 minutes put the scoreline beyond doubt. As the Gers will now jet back home and prepare to take on Sunderland in the final fixture of their pre-season programme.
Early set pieces saw Rangers get sights of goal in the opening exchanges to no avail. A whipped delivery from Jodi McLeary from the right side broke for Laura Berry, her touch got away from her as Sandra Estevez came to gather, the ball was initially dropped by the keeper but she gathered at the second attempt.
Milan themselves started to grow into the game, but also couldn’t make the most of some set pieces chances with openings few and far between for either side in the opening quarter of an hour.
The Gers had their best moment just beyond the 20-minute mark as Mia McAulay was played through on goal by May Cruft. The youngster spotted the run of the winger who was one on one with Estevez, but the goalkeeper stood her ground when well off her line to make the stop.
AC Milan had their best moment shortly afterwards. Captain Christy Grimshaw did well inside the box to hold off Nicola Docherty. Her pass found Evelyn Ijeh who was denied by a brilliant Jenna Fife save, before Monica Renzotti somehow couldn’t turn the rebound into the net as her effort flew wide.
An unfortunate moment for May Cruft was to follow as the youngster sent a bounced back pass straight over the top of her own goalkeeper to put the hosts ahead. Much to the visitors frustration as they more than imposed themselves on proceedings until that point in the game.
A Kirsty Howat effort following a positive Alice Griffiths pass flew over the top before Milan really pulled away with two goals in two minutes. Firstly, a ball from the left was fired across as the Gers thought they had got themselves out of the situation, but the loose ball fell to Ijeh who reacted first to finish.
In the next phase following the restart it was three. This time a short back pass from Fallon Connolly-Jackson was latched onto again by the striker Ijeh, her first effort came back off the post but she had the simple task of rolling the loose ball into the empty net.
The Light Blues looked to start a fresh in the second 45 minutes. Berry, who was lively on the night, almost found herself in on goal as she looked to be a yard ahead of the defender, but the covering De Sanders did well to recover and make a last ditch challenge.
Milan looked to continue where they left off themselves. A good pass through from goalscorer Ijeh saw Monica Renzotti make a clever run from right to left, but her shot across goal was matched by Fife who made the stop with her foot.
The Gers were boosted by the return of Liv McLoughlin, who made a long awaited return from injury and featured on the pitch for the first time in almost five months alongside Eilidh Austin, who was back after missing the last two matches with illness.
The away side has their best moment of the second half as Howat forced a good save out of sub goalie Lavinia Tornaghi. The ball was won by McAulay high on the right flank as it worked its way to the striker, her right footed shot was well saved but Berry was unable to turn the left footed rebound in at the angle.
Milan probed and did find a fourth goal before the day was out. After missing a chance moments earlier substitute Paola Taddei cut in off the right and fired a left footed shot which beat Fife at the near post via the upright.
AC MILAN: Estevez (Tornaghi, 45), Bonanomi (Peres, 35), Donolato (Artoli, 35), De Sanders (Vitale, 76), Keijzer, Cesarini (Mascarello, 35), Cernoia, Grimshaw, Renzotti (Taddei, 76), Ijeh, Appiah (Domping, 35)
SUBS: N/A
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Hay (Arnot, 62), Howat, McAulay (Townsley, 72), Berry, Cruft (McLoughlin, 62), Griffiths (Black 72), McLeary (Wilkinson, 62), Connolly-Jackson, Boyce (Austin, 62)
SUBS: Ivarsdottir