Ostracised and under fire for much of the season, Cyriel Dessers is beginning to silence his critics. The Super Eagles striker delivered another decisive performance, scoring in Rangers’ 3-1 comeback win over Dundee United on Saturday.
His fifth goal in three matches could force manager Philippe Clement to reconsider his stance on the Nigerian forward’s future.
Starting alongside Hamza Igamane, Dessers saw his side fall behind in the 20th minute. Dundee United’s Sam Dalby capitalised on a rebound off Vicko Selvej’s blocked shot to slot past Jack Butland.
Rangers clawed their way back six minutes into the second half through Mohamed Diomande. The Ivorian midfielder dribbled past his marker and curled a precise effort into the bottom left corner after a clever pass from James Tavernier.
Four minutes later, Robin Propper turned the game on its head, meeting Ianis Hagi’s pinpoint cross with a stunning left-footed finish to give Rangers the lead.
Red-hot Dessers comes to the party
Dessers sealed the victory in the 68th minute. Initially denied by an offside call, the Nigerian forward made no mistake on his second chance.
A piercing pass from Diomande sent Zak Lovelace racing into the box, and the teenager unselfishly squared the ball for Dessers, who unleashed a clinical finish into the top corner from a tight angle.
The 30-year-old completed the match with 32 touches, converting one of his two shots on target, while also making three key passes. He completed 10 of his 15 attempted passes (67%) and won four of his eight ground duels, showcasing his improved all-around play.
Despite Diomande’s late red card following an altercation, Rangers secured their fifth win in eight games, closing the gap on Celtic to 10 points. Dessers’ resurgence may just cement his place in Clement’s plans for the remainder of the season.
