Rangers beat HJK Helsinki 3-2 at Ibrox this afternoon.
Rangers were in friendly action this afternoon, defeating HJK Helsinki 3-2 ahead of their return to Scottish Premiership action in midweek.
As part of the deal to sign Alfredo Morelos from HJK Helsinki in 2017, Rangers arranged an Ibrox friendly with the Finnish club, giving Steven Gerrard’s side a run-out today.
Gerrard went with a strong side after Friday’s Scottish Cup clash with Cowdenbeath was called off due to a frozen pitch, and Scott Arfield opened the scoring for the Gers.
However, HJK hit back almost immediately, with Kevin Kouassivi-Benissa scoring an equaliser – and the same thing happened again in the second half, with Nikola Katic powering home a header before Lassi Lappalainen quickly brought the scores level again.
Daniel Candeias scored the winner though, handing Rangers a 3-2 victory to kick off 2019 perfectly ahead of facing Kilmarnock in midweek.
Rangers fans got a first showing of Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis, but it was a HJK player who actually caught the eye of many Gers supporters in midfielder Eetu Vertainen.
19-year-old ace Vertainen started at Ibrox, and he was the standout performer for HJK, leading many Rangers fans to urge the club to raid them again, 18 months after signing Morelos from them.
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