Marco Negri could not reproduce the goal-scoring form which made him such a Rangers favourite two years ago in a friendly against Sparta Rotterdam.

The Italian striker, who appeared as a second-half substitute, was not aided in his quest by a lack of service from a Gers side content to stroll through the 90 minutes to officially mark the opening of the Eneco Stadion in Holland.

The Dutch side were more determined than Dick Advocaat's side and could have snatched the win on several occasions, with Bram Marbus and second-half sub Roy Stroeve both going close.

Rangers strolled their way through the first period, even allowing the home side a number of chances to celebrate the opening of their new stadium with the first goal.

Only goalkeeper Stefan Klos' quick thinking denied Marbus after nine minutes after he played a swift one-two with Michel Langerak.

Arthur Numan, clearly inspired by his first goal for the Gers against Aberdeen on Saturday, tried his luck again when he met Andrei Kanchelskis' cross after a brilliant ball wide by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Impressive Sparta midfielder Anders Nielsen was looking very lively and Marbus met his excellent 16th-minute cross with a diving header from the edge of the area which Klos saved comfortably.

Sparta needed the quick thinking of Dave Van der Meer nine minutes later when he cleared Rod Wallace's low cross from the right under pressure from Kanchelskis.

From Van Bronckhorst's resulting corner Lorenzo Amoruso headed just over. But the Rangers captain slipped later with a poor back pass which allowed Marbus to close in on goal, but the striker could not take advantage.

The excitable tannoy announcer loudly proclaimed that new Gers signing Tugay Kerimoglou was a huge favourite with the Ibrox fans - a little premature - but the Turkish international worked hard at forming a solid relationship with Van Bronckhorst in the middle.

In what was, in reality, an exhibition match, it took a defender to come closest in the first period with Sparta's Marillia de Santana putting his header on to the roof of Klos' net from Nielsen's cross four minutes from the break.

Advocaat made a plethora of changes for the second half with Jorg Albertz, Tony Vidmar, Gordon Durie and, most noticeably, Negri all coming on.

The Italian took just seconds to almost score his first goal for the Light Blues in two years. Claudio Reyna broke from the right but his shot was miscued. Negri attempted to get down low to head home but just failed.

The mass substitution had little bearing on the quality of the game, although Vidmar was caught by surprise when he failed to see Tugay's excellent long ball in the 64th minute, allowing goalkeeper Frank Kooiman to clear.

But Sparta were desperate to officially mark the opening of their stadium with a victory and only Klos' legs prevented Erik Tammer from driving home.

Nielsen swung over an excellent corner which avoided the attentions of the Rangers defence but Nordin Boukhari on the back post could only drive wide.

Craig Moore was fortunate to escape giving away a penalty after 77 minutes when he appeared to pull Boukhari's shirt in the area.

Ronald Koeman lookalike Van der Meer proved he lacks the former Dutch captain's direction when he powered a free-kick well wide.

And Albertz forced the first real save of the game five minutes from the end when Kooiman tipped over.

In the dying seconds Stroeve rounded Klos before striking goalwards but defender Moore cleared from under his own crossbar.