Cyriel Dessers displayed his resilience once again in the Europa League, netting a crucial equaliser to help Rangers avoid a potential defeat at the hands of Olympiacos.
The Nigerian forward’s second-half strike not only marked his first Europa League goal of the campaign but also salvaged a hard-fought point on the road, keeping Rangers in contention for European glory, Footballrover reports.
Rangers had kicked off their Europa League journey with a promising 2-0 victory over Malmo FF but faced a setback in their next match, falling to a 4-1 defeat against Lyon.
Nevertheless, with a commanding 4-0 win over FCSB in their previous Europa fixture and a 2-1 triumph over Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup, the Scottish side entered this match riding high on confidence, eager to maintain their momentum.
However, their visit to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium would prove challenging.
After a tense, goalless first half, Olympiacos broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the second period when Ayoub El Kaabi capitalised on a well-placed pass, striking the ball into the top right corner off the post.
Yet, Rangers weren’t ready to concede defeat just yet.
Cyriel Dessers leads the charge in Europa League
In the 64th minute, Cyriel Dessers found his moment, taking a well-timed shot from the edge of the box and delivering a precise finish into the bottom left corner.
Vaclav Cerny’s assist paved the way for Dessers’ equaliser, marking the Nigerian’s ninth goal across all competitions for Rangers.
The 29-year-old forward registered four shots on target throughout the game, but it was his second-half strike that truly made the difference.
With 36 touches, including six inside the opposition’s box and two key passes in the final third, Dessers’ performance demonstrated his impact on the field, securing a valuable 1-1 draw for Rangers.
As the Europa League group stage unfolds, Rangers will look to build on this result and continue their pursuit of European success.
Next, they shift their focus back to the Scottish Premiership as they prepare to take on Hearts in an anticipated clash this Sunday.
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