Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers scored a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 first leg draw for Rangers in their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv at the Arena Lublin in Poland on Tuesday.
FULL-TIME: Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Rangers | #UCL
Cyriel Dessers’ 94th min goal sends us back to Scotland for the second-leg all level in the tie. pic.twitter.com/JXLWQ9j5I3
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 6, 2024
Kyiv captain and former West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko put the Ukrainians up in the 37th-minute, and with time running out Dessers scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to earn the Scottish Premiership side a draw.
Dessers, who started the game for Rangers, popped up in the dying embers to convert a cross from substitute Vaclav Cerny with the last kick of the game.
GET IN @CyrielDessers 👊 pic.twitter.com/qzgamr5GPI
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 6, 2024
“We kept on pushing to the end to get the result and I am happy about that because we want to get in every team at this club this mentality, to keep on working, to keep on going, keep believing,” Rangers manager, Philippe Clement said.
“We have several new players now; we have young players, and they did it. Vaclav Cerny with the very important assist and Cyriel also, kept on pushing to get a goal because he had a few chances which he finished well, and the goalkeeper saved well. He kept on believing and I am happy for him that he scored the goal.”
As a result of a delayed refurbishment to one of the Ibrox Stadium’s stands, Rangers will play Kyiv at Hampden Park in a return leg set for next week. The winner of the tie will battle one of RB Salzburg or Twente in the next round.
