Rangers Head Coach Philippe Clement hailed Super Eagles striker Cyriel Kolawole Dessers after his last-minute equalizer against Dynamo Kyiv in their UEFA Champions League qualifier clash on Tuesday.
The dramatic goal at the Lublin Arena in Poland salvaged a 1-1 draw for Rangers, setting the stage for an exciting second leg at Hampden Park.
Dessers faced criticism after missing key opportunities in Rangers’ SPFL opener against Hearts last week. However, he redeemed himself by scoring the crucial equalizer against Kyiv.
Rangers fell behind eight minutes before halftime due to an error from Turkish left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, which allowed Andriy Yarmolenko to score for Kyiv.
Despite being denied twice by Kyiv’s goalkeeper, Dessers persisted. In the final minute, Vaclav Cerny delivered a cross that Dessers tapped home, earning praise from both his manager and teammates.
Philippe Clement expressed his satisfaction with Dessers’ performance, highlighting his perseverance and crucial contribution to the team. “I’m really happy that Cyriel made the decisive goal today,” Clement told The Scottish Sun.
“He played a really good game and had several good finishes against a top goalkeeper. He never gave up and was there at the decisive moment. That’s what you want from a striker.”
Since Clement replaced former boss Michael Beale, Dessers has flourished, scoring 22 goals and providing nine assists last season.
Clement praised the 29-year-old Nigerian for his continuous development and eagerness to learn. “I see a player who has developed a lot in many aspects over the last seven months. He’s always willing to learn and grow. I believe he will be very important for the squad this season,” Clement added.
The return leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifier will take place at Hampden Park in Ibrox next Tuesday, with Rangers’ home fans eagerly supporting their team.
