Rangers continue Premiership preparations with win over Hamburg at Ibrox

Rangers have continued their preparations for the upcoming season with a 2-1 win over Hamburg at Ibrox.

Fashion Sakala and James Tavernier scored to give the home side a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time on Saturday and Hamburg scored a late consolation goal in injury time.

Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers was introduced to the support for the first time when he was brought on at half-time.

The Bundesliga 2 side arrived in Glasgow just a week before their league season kicks off next Saturday with Michael Beale’s new-look squad still two weeks before their Premiership season gets underway at Kilmarnock.

Rangers had the best of the early action and Iani Hagi and Rabbi Matondo both should have done better with the chances that presented themselves.

Sakala scored the opening goal eight minutes short of half-time when the Zambia forward put pressure on the Hamburg defence before taking advantage of a slip and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

The forward was involved again when Rangers made it 2-0 and won a penalty after a darting run into the box.

The spot-kick was slotted home by captain James Tavernier to double the advantage in what was the last action of the first 45.

Both teams made five changes each for the second half with John Souttar, Todd Cantwell, Sam Lammers, John Lundstram and young defender Johnly Yfeko being introduced for Rangers in the place of Sakala, Ben Davies, Hagi, Kieran Dowell and Leon Balogun.

Abdallah Sima should have made it three on the hour mark when he was teed up by a Lammers header right in-front goal but he floated his shot over the bar.

Cyriel Dessers then was brought on for his debut as another raft of changes took place that also included Kemar Roofe, Borna Barisic and teenager Bailey Rice.

They replaced Sima, Matondo, Yilmaz Ridvan and Nico Raskin.

Cantwell hit the bar with a looping header before Roofe forced the goalkeeper to make a point blank save from the rebound with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Tom Lawrence then made his long awaited return to first-team action after 11 months out injured when he was brought on Tavernier with just over ten minutes left.

Dessers had a chance for a dream debut goal after Roofe forced the goalkeeper into an error but the Nigeria forward blasted high and wide from the edge of the box with an empty goal gaping.

Dompe pulled one back for the visitors with an impressive free-kick in injury time to make it 2-1.

Rangers continue their pre-season with games against Olympiacos and Hoffenheim over the next fortnight ahead of their visit to Rugby Park on August 5.