For all of Cyriel Dessers’ critics, one part of the striker’s game that no one can knock is his penchant for stepping up to the plate in big European ties.
Rangers’ number nine came to Feyenoord’s rescue on numerous occasions while firing Arne Slot’s side to the inaugural Europa Conference League final. He claimed the tournament’s Golden Boot for his efforts while nailing down a reputation for big goals at the biggest moments.
And, since moving to Ibrox during the summer of 2023, Cyriel Dessers has scored a winner against Servette, a stunning solo goal against Real Betis to fire Philippe Clement’s side into the knockout stages of the Europa League, and now a last-gasp equaliser away to Dynamo Kiev.
After being denied by a ‘crazy‘ save from Heorhiy Bushchan – a near-faultless glancing header tipped around the post following Jefte’s fine cross – there was no keeping Dessers off the scoresheet.
Not when Vaclav Cerny whipped in another pinpoint ball with 94 minutes on the clock.
Cyriel Dessers rescues Rangers at Dynamo Kiev
Even Volodymyr Yezerskiy, the former Dynamo defender, has to admit that the visitors from Glasgow were good value for their point.
Despite needing a stoppage time equaliser ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Scotland, Rangers created the majority of the chances.
And, though they only managed 43 per cent of the possession, Yezerskiy feels that the industrious Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron won the midfield battle with their sterling off-the-ball work.
“There were two different halves. Before the break, Dynamo left a more complete impression. Each player clearly knew his role, there was dynamics, skilful play, quick transitions from defence to attack,” Yezerskiy tells Sport.
“The Scots increased their intensity (after half-time), started pressing high up. And it turned out that the Kievans were not always able to escape from under this tight guard.
“(Volodymyr) Brazhko and (Mykola) Shaparenko could not keep up with the opponents’ movements in the midfield.”
Rangers News gave both Diomande and Barron a rating of 7/10.
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This was not Diomande’s finest performance with the ball at his feet. But alongside Barron – arguably Rangers’ stand-out performer at Hearts on the opening day – a vulnerable backline was protected by a sheet of steel.
Jack Butland, so often coming to Rangers’ rescue in Europe, barely had a save to make in the final 45.
Dynamo Kiev’s inability to dominate the centre of the park was still not the biggest concern for Yezerskiy, however. He feels that Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s side shot themselves in the foot by standing off Rangers’ dangerous widemen.
Cerny faced little opposition as he shifted the ball onto his favourite left foot and crossed for Dessers at the death, while Ross McCausland clipped the post with a gorgeous curling effort from distance.
Shovkovskyi spoke before the game about the threat Rangers posed out wide. Not that Dynamo did much to quell the danger when the kick-off arrived.
“The worst thing was that the Dynamo players had problems on the flanks,” adds Yezerskiy, who won nearly 40 caps for the Ukraine national team in the 1990s and 2000s.
“For me, the full-backs should have met their opponents higher up and not watched them combine near the penalty area. Of course, the midfielders should have helped them. (This weakness) often let the Kyivans down.
“The Scots had enough time to look for weak spots in the Dynamo formations.
“I’s good that goalkeeper Bushchan saved them on several occasions. However, in the added time, the Scots finally got their way.”
