Rangers' miserable return to the Champions League ended with one final night of pain as they were comfortably beaten by Ajax.
And in taking their leave, they depart with the worst group stage return of any side to compete at UEFA's top table. Goals from Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and late sub Francisco Conceicao were the final blows in a total of 21 conceded over six consecutive defeats, with just two going in at the other end. Granted, Gio van Bronckhorst 's were severely depleted at the back after Ben Davies joined a seemingly endless list of defensive casualties. And yes, they were up against some of the cream of Europe.
But as it's been over this most bruising of European campaigns, Rangers couldn't live with the attacking prowess of the Eredivisie champions and were far too charitable in their efforts to keep them out. James Tavernier 's penalty at least got them on the scoresheet but it was scant consolation when Conceicao raced up the other end to restore Ajax's two-goal lead. Berghuis and Kudus had put Alfred Schreuder's side in command with two first-half goals and despite Rangers undeniable endeavour, they were rarely troubled from then on out.
Despite the dead rubber billing, Ibrox was rocking pre-kick off and in the early moments. Rangers failed to serve up a storm of their own to match the decibel levels, although there was certainly turmoil in their backline as Ajax cut them to shreds and Berghuis produced a nonchalant finish to fool both Allan McGregor and Leon King.
Calvin Bassey was afforded the warmest of welcomes on his return to Ibrox and his first meaningful action was to stop a Fashion Sakala header troubling the Ajax goal. The Zambian rose highest from a Ryan Kent cross as Rangers reacted with defiance to going behind.
It proved a false dawn. Ajax ably soaked up a brief period of pressure before re-taking control of the ball and adding a decisive second. Again it was too easy for the Dutch champions to advance into Rangers ' box and when Kudus was given ample time to sort his feet out, his effort deflected off King and into the net.
This was miserable enough for the Ibrox faithful but Ajax could, and should, have notched a third before the break. Steven Bergwijn stung the palms of McGregor when he ought to have picked a corner, Kudus uncharacteristically dragged wide after ghosting away from James Tavernier and it was then his ball across the box that should've been tapped in at the back post.
Into the second-half we went and although Rangers soldiered on manfully, there was a growing frustration among the capacity crowd as time and again forays forward ultimately came to nothing. Ajax had the ball in the net again when Devyne Rensch's sumptuous pass carved Rangers open again by Kudus was ever so slightly offside as he eluded King to slot home.
Rangers brought on Scott Wright, Rabbi Matondo and Alfredo Morelos to try and salvage something - and the latter should've done when he robbed dawdling keeper Remko Pasveer, only to then lose his own composure and slice his finish badly wide.
Tavernier made no such mistake from the spot after Matondo's brilliant run prompted Julian Alvarez into barging him over in the box, briefly setting up the prospect of a big finish.
But those hopes were swiftly dashed when Conceicao galloped onto Dusan Tadic's slick through ball and finished with all the guile and composure of dad Sergio. Here's 5 talking points...
Unwanted history
From the highs of Dortmund, Belgrade, Braga and Leipzig mere months ago, to six absolutely punishing Champions League outings, it's been a brutal learning curve for Rangers. They now finish the campaign with the ignominy of now being known as statistically the tournament's worst ever side.
Six matches, six losses, one goal scored and a dreadful 20 conceded sees them overtake Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League hall of shame. It's a brutal reality check for a club who were a penalty shootout away from winning the Europa League this very same year.
Yes, they were dealt the toughest of hands in Group A but the extent to which they've been outclassed has been galling for an expectant support. These results have also had a domestic knock on effect from which they've yet to recover. Getting back to this stage has been the dream for a decade... how quickly it has turned sour.
Bassey's return
There was little doubt the big defender would be warmly received on his return to Ibrox. He became a firm fans' favourite on last season's run to Seville and for two stellar displays in the Scottish Cup semi-final and final.
Netting Rangers a club record fee on your departure also goes some way to ensuring the red carpet will be rolled out when you come back. It was certainly all smiles ahead of kick-off as Bassey reunited with the likes of Ross Wilson and others.
But that's where the joviality ended for those of a Light Blue persuasion and the way Bassey strolled through this 90 minutes was a stark reminder of the quality lost during the summer.
Disastrous defending
Attack was Rangers' best of defence in Europe last season but at this level you simply can't afford to be soft at the back and expect to get away with it. Twice in the first-half Rangers were undone too easily by simple errors.
James Tavernier got caught on the inside for the first, Steven Davis failed to track Berghuis and King appeared to think the ball was drifting harmlessly wide and opted to let it drop into the net. Sakala was the man to fail to track a run for the second and King was the unfortunate in being on the end of Kudus' shot, diverting it beyond McGregor.
It would be harsh to level much criticism at King - he's a teenager who has been thrust into European football's most unforgiving arena by a spate of injuries. The youngster has only made 16 Rangers appearances in total and five of them have come in the Champions League.
Nonetheless, the two goals conceded were a microcosm of Rangers' campaign.
Ajax ooze class
The defending was poor at times from Rangers but there's no denying the class of the Dutch champions. Some of their interplay was delightful and in Kudus they look to have unearthed yet another superstar in the making. And yet it's ominously indicative of the mountain Rangers must climb to compete at this level in that Ajax themselves have been battered 6-1, 4-2 and 3-0 by Napoli and Liverpool.
Having lost the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Sebastian Haller and Ryan Gravenbach during the summer, they're a team in transition and Group A has proven too much even for their undoubted talent. Having earned themselves a Europa League lifeline, Ajax will likely fancy themselves as real contenders.
Where to now?
There was optimism in the wake of a commanding win over Aberdeen that Rangers could end their Champions League campaign on a high note. News of further injuries - this time to Ben Davies - further weakened an already obliterated backline.
This defeat showed be viewed through that prism but it's still another painful defeat and one that confirmed the most unwanted of records. Rangers, to their credit, could've collapsed after the second but instead they at least turned this one into a contest.
What must happen now is more of displays and results like the one that sent the Dons packing at the weekend, ensuring they are very much still in the title race by the time the World Cup break arrives. That will, at least, buy Van Bronckhorst some time to get players back fit - because he really does need it.
