In a thrilling encounter on Wednesday night at the Ibrox Stadium, Cyriel Dessers put in stunning performance as he opened his goal account for Rangers, helping his team secure a hard-fought 2-1 win over Servette FC in the third round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
The Super Eagles striker made his mark, netting the second goal for Rangers in a closely contested match.
The Scottish Premiership side kicked off with a bang as James Tavernier confidently converted a penalty just six minutes into the game, setting the stage for an exciting clash.
Rangers maintained their dominance throughout the match, and it was just a matter of time before they extended their lead.
In the 15th minute, Borna Barisic’s precise cross found Cyriel Dessers perfectly positioned for an effortless tap-in, doubling Rangers’ lead to 2-0.
Despite Dessers’ heroics, a momentary setback occurred just before halftime when he conceded a penalty. Servette’s Chris Bedia capitalized on the opportunity, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
Throughout the rest of the match, Rangers continued to assert their authority over their opponents, maintaining possession and controlling the tempo.
However, despite their dominance, the Scottish side was unable to convert their possession into additional goals.
Cyriel Dessers played for just 88 minutes and left a lasting impression on the pitch.
The Nigerian International, who recently joined Rangers this summer from US Cremonese, had eagerly anticipated this moment, having previously gone four games without finding the back of the net for his new club.
Dessers’ breakthrough arrived in front of the passionate home crowd during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Servette.
The 28-year-old striker’s goal proved to be pivotal, as the game concluded with a 2-1 scoreline in favor of Rangers.
With this hard-fought victory, Rangers now head into the second leg of the qualifiers with a slim lead.
The team will travel to Switzerland, where they will aim to build on their advantage and secure their spot in the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
