UEL: Cyriel Dessers’ goal salvages point for Rangers in Greece

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Forward Cyriel Dessers scored his first goal in the 2024/2025 UEFA Europa League as Scottish side Rangers forced Olympiacos to a 1-1 draw on Thursday.

Dessers had scored three goals with an assist in 10 league games ahead of the game at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus.

Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi opened scoring for the host in the 56th minute from a half-volley inside the box after receiving a pass from Chiquinho.

The lead lasted eight minutes before Dessers leveled the scoreline with a good strike from Vaclav Cerny’s pass.

After providing two assists in the UEFA Europa League, Dessers finally scored his first goal.

He was replaced by Hamza Igamane in the 85th minute.

His exclusion from Nigeria’s senior national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda has sparked reactions from fans.

After the draw, Rangers occupy the 10th position in the Europa League with seven points after four games.

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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