Cyriel Dessers was the standout performer as Rangers earned a vital 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash at the Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul.
The Nigerian forward played a key role in the win, scoring one and assisting another, leaving Rangers in a commanding position ahead of the return leg in Glasgow.
Dessers opened the scoring in the sixth minute, taking advantage of a loose ball between Fenerbahçe’s goalkeeper and defense.
The striker was quick to react, displaying sharpness and composure in a high-pressure moment.
His clinical finish set the tone for a fast-paced encounter, with both teams intent on taking control.
Speaking to UEFA.com after the game, Dessers expressed his satisfaction with the result.
“Overall, I think we can be very happy with this evening. We handled them well. It will not be easy to handle them again next week but you see that we can hurt any team on the counterattack,” he said.
His words reflected the confidence in the Rangers camp, with the team successfully navigating Fenerbahçe’s possession-based approach while capitalizing on counter-attacking opportunities.
Despite Fenerbahçe equalizing through Djiku in the 30th minute, Rangers showed resilience, restoring their lead just before halftime.
Václav Černý, who had been a constant threat throughout the game, put the visitors back in front in the 42nd minute.
He later sealed the win with another strike in the 81st minute, ensuring that Rangers left Istanbul with a two-goal advantage.
Dessers’ performance was particularly noteworthy, as he not only scored but also provided the assist for Černý’s first goal.
His ability to read the game and provide key contributions in attacking situations was vital for Rangers’ success.
Reflecting on his opening goal, Dessers said, “It’s a very nice feeling to score in a stadium like this. For the first goal, I just saw the ball drop between the defender and the goalkeeper, and that’s one of those moments as a striker when you have to be sharp.”
Dessers’ performance in such a high-stakes match showed his growing confidence and importance to Rangers’ attack.
With Fenerbahçe now facing a tough challenge in the return leg, Rangers will be looking to finish the job and secure their place in the next stage of the Europa League.
As the two teams prepare for the second leg, Dessers and Rangers will be aiming to build on their solid advantage, while Fenerbahçe will need to regroup and respond with a stronger performance at Ibrox.
