Second-half substitutes Danilo and Findlay Curtis were both on target as Russell Martin’s squad got one final run out ahead of the start of the Scottish Premiership season next weekend.
Of course, the Gers have already had a taste of competitive action this season with Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and Martin was looking for his team to build on that performance, with opportunities handed to a number of players at Ibrox this afternoon.
Liam Kelly started in goal, behind a back four of Oscar Cortes, Zander Hutton, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Jefte. Connor Barron and Bailey Rice took up positions in midfield with Nedim Bajrami joining them in an advanced role. Cyriel Dessers led the line, with support from Djeidi Gassama and Josh Gentles.
The first chance fell for the visitors as Scotland international Tommy Conway latched on the end of a long ball to race towards Liam Kelly in goal, but the stopper matched the effort and turned behind for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Middlesbrough had the opening goal with 10 minutes played. The ball was swung into the box by Law McCabe, and flicked into the danger area off the head of captain Dael Fry.
Neto Borges, who had been a late change to the Middlesbrough starting XI, was alert to tap beyond Kelly. Law McCabe fired wide in another chance as Rangers continued to get to grips with a new-look starting XI from the one fielded in midweek.
Martin’s side were growing into the game, and an opportunity opened up for Nedim Bajrami after good build up play from Oscar Cortes. The winger made ground down the right, before finding Djeidi Gassama, he played in Bajrami who was in a central area, but he flashed a shot just wide of the target.
Another big chance fell for Middlesbrough just minutes later as Morgan Whittaker hit the post before Luke Ayling had a rebound effort blocked by Jefte. The attack wasn’t over as the ball was picked up by Delano Burgzorg who curled a strike towards goal but Liam Kelly got a strong save to push it wide for a corner.
Conway had the ball in the net again with 34 minutes on the clock, but the linesman raised his flag for offside before Zander Hutton did well to clear a ball on the line as the visitors looked to extend their advantage.
With five minutes of the first-half remaining, last season’s top scorer Cyriel Dessers had a shot saved at the near post by Sol Brynn.
There were claims for a penalty as the ball deflected off the hand of Luke Ayling at a Rangers corner, but these were waved away by referee John Beaton.
Head coach Russell Martin watched the second-half from the stand, as there was one change for Rangers with Lyall Cameron introduced in place of Cyriel Dessers.
With 57 minutes played, Middlesbrough doubled their lead from another set-piece, a free kick was swung into the box by Morgan Whittaker, and found Dael Fry in space at the back post. He sent it across goal before the ball returned to the captain and this time, he tapped home himself.
On the hour mark Rangers made seven changes, as James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons, Nico Raskin, Kieran Dowell, Findlay Curtis and Danilo were all introduced.
The changes gave Rangers another lift and they got a goal back shortly after with two of the substitutes combining well. Max Aarons delivered a lovely ball into the box, with Danilo getting his head to the ball in the box getting just enough on it to glance it beyond the goalkeeper.
Gers were back level with 79 minutes on the clock, and it was a third goal in three games at Ibrox for Findlay Curtis. Kieran Dowell’s cross was sent towards goal by a header from Nico Raskin. The Middlesbrough keeper did well to get a strong hand to push it away, but Curtis was alert to the rebound and tapped it in from close range.
In injury time, goalkeeper Tom Glover denied Nico Raskin a winner with a good save as the match finished 2-2.
RANGERS: Kelly, Hutton (Djiga, 60), Fernandez, Rice (Raskin, 60), Jefte (Aarons, 60), Barron, Bajrami (Dowell, 60), Gassama (Curtis, 60), Cortes (Tavernier, 60), Gentles (Danilo, 60), Dessers (Cameron, 45).
Subs: Butland, Wright.
Middlesbrough: Brynn (Glover, 74), Ayling, Fry, Borges, Conway (Forss, 74), Burgzorg, Whittaker (Hamilton, 71), Morris, Silvera, Lenihan (Jones, 71), McCabe (Barlaser, 71).
Subs: Gilbert, Woolston, McCormick, Finch.