Cyriel Dessers delivered a standout performance in Rangers’ 3-1 victory over Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday.
The Super Eagles striker scored and provided an assist, showing his quality on the big stage while compatriot Leon Balogun did not start the game, but was introduced in the 26th minute after Robin Propper sustained an injury.
Nigerian defender Balogun slugging it out Ghana’s Djiku.
Despite Fenerbahce being slight favorites heading into the game, it was Rangers who struck early, with Dessers finding the back of the net in the 7th minute after a brilliant pass from Mohammed Diomande.
The match saw more drama as Fenerbahce responded with an equalizer, Alexander Djiku scored the equalizer for the Turkish giants. However, three minutes before the break, Dessers turned provider supplying a brilliant assist to Vaclav Cerny, who scored the second for Rangers.
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The ‘Gers would have expected a second-half onslaught from Sari Kanaryalar, however, they could easily have found themselves in a more commanding position were it not for some poor fortune for Dessers.
Desser celebrating his opener in Istanbul. (Photo Credit Imago)
Dessers had two goals ruled out for offside in the second half, Cerny sealed the win with a third in the 81st minute. The striker played the full 90 minutes, and his performance was a key factor in the team’s commanding victory over Mourinho’s side.
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Rangers have now lost only one of their last eight Europa League away fixtures and will be hot favourites to progress to the quarter-finals when the tie concludes at Ibrox next week.
Dessers, 30, has now scored 3 goals in 9 appearances in the 2024/2025 UEFA Europa league while netting 11 in 23 Scottish league games with the total of 22 goals across 43 matches in all competition to his name.
