By Fakande Oluwamayowa
Cyriel Dessers delivered a stellar performance as Rangers defeated Viktoria Plzen 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday night at Ibrox.
The Nigerian forward scored one goal and provided an assist, earning him a solid rating of 8 out of 10 from The Scottish Sun.
Highlighting his contribution, the publication wrote: “Preferred to Danilo up front and showed why. Dessers set up the opener with a clever pass and then slammed in a penalty. Led the line well throughout.”
Djeidi Gassama netted twice, either side of Dessers’ first-half penalty, to give the Scottish side a commanding lead ahead of the second leg in the Czech Republic next week.
Rangers opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Dessers teed up Gassama, who took a touch and finished calmly.
Just before halftime, Dessers doubled the lead from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after new signing Oliver Antman was fouled in the box by Matej Vydra.
Six minutes after the break, Gassama added his second and Rangers’ third, heading in his fourth goal of the qualifying campaign.
The winner of the tie between Rangers and Plzen will face either Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg or Belgium’s Club Brugge in the playoff round for a place in the Champions League group stage.
