Champions League: Dessers gives Rangers hope with late goal

Cyriel Dessers’ dramatic 94th-minute equaliser earned Rangers a crucial first-leg draw with Dynamo Kyiv in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Amid increasing negative noise surrounding the start of the Ibrox club’s season, Philippe Clement’s side fell behind to Andriy Yarmolenko’s first-half opener.

In a similar theme to their goalless draw with Heart of Midlothian on Saturday, Rangers were again both profligate and exposed on occasions, but much-maligned Dessers’ close-range finish – the final kick of the match – rescued what could be a priceless result in Poland.

Played at a half-full Lublin Arena because of the war in Ukraine, next Tuesday’s second leg will be staged at Hampden because delayed construction work at Ibrox continues, meaning neither team will play their home tie in their own ground.

The winners of the tie will face either RB Salzburg or FC Twente for a place in the 2024-25 Champions League, with the Austrians taking a 2-1 lead to the Netherlands.

As on Saturday, only one new summer signing – Connor Barron – featured in the Rangers starting XI, which speaks volumes about the pace of the squad rebuild manager Clement has craved.

That scenario in addition to uninspiring pre-season displays, plus the weekend draw with Hearts and the temporary relocation to Hampden, have prompted discontent among supporters.

Before the match former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson said he had “never seen the fans as low”.

That mood was poised to hit rock bottom with the clock ticking towards minute 94, but the small pocket of travelling fans were ecstastic when Dessers caressed in Vaclav Cerny’s fine cross.

The striker had been denied prior to his leveller when his glancing header was tipped away superbly by Heorhiy Bushchan, whose involvement throughout was limited because of poor decision-making in the final third from Clement’s men.

Earlier, the Ukraine goalkeeper watched Ross McCausland strike his right-hand post with a stunning first-half effort, which came just minutes after Vladyslav Vanat had been denied an opener by the offside flag.

The impressive Vanat was then on hand to set up Yarmolenko for the opener after Ridvan Yilmaz was dispossessed in his own half.