Cyriel Dessers silenced his critics with a brace as Rangers secured a 3-0 victory over Dundee in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox Stadium.
The Nigeria international broke the deadlock for the Gers in the 18th minute. Although his initial shot was saved, the powerful striker quickly pounced on the rebound to give Philippe Clement's side an early lead.
The hosts expertly managed the game, heading into halftime with Dessers' solitary strike securing their lead. Five minutes into the second half, Rangers doubled their lead when James Tavernier converted a penalty.
The 29-year-old was denied his second goal of the day, despite scoring again in the 66th minute when he netted Rangers' third after being set up by Nedim Bajrami. He was substituted just two minutes later, with Morocco international Hamza Igamane taking his place.
Dessers proves critics wrong: A strong start to the season with goals and impact
Dessers is making a strong statement this season, consistently proving his critics wrong with his performances on the pitch.
Despite being Rangers' top scorer last season during his debut campaign, some pundits and a section of the Rangers faithful were calling for his departure from the club before the start of the 2024/25 season.
However, Dessers has silenced those doubts by scoring three goals and providing one assist across five matches in the Scottish Premier League, averaging 80 minutes of play per game.
His impactful contributions were particularly highlighted this evening, as he netted two goals in Rangers' 3-0 victory over Dundee.
Dessers' talent extends beyond domestic competition; he also showcased his skills in Rangers' UEFA Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin in August. With each match, he continues to demonstrate his value to the team and reaffirm his place at the club.
Dessers has so far scored seven goals across all competitions.