UCL: Rangers earn dramatic draw

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Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 1 Rangers

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

Highlights above courtesy of Premier Sports

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

Similar to their goalless draw with Heart of Midlothian on Saturday, Rangers were both wasteful and occasionally vulnerable. However, Dessers' close-range finish with the final kick of the match rescued what could be a priceless result in Poland.

The winners of this 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.

A closer analysis of what happened

As on Saturday, only one new summer signing, Connor Barron, featured in the Rangers starting XI, highlighting the slow pace of the squad rebuild that manager Clement has desired.

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This situation, combined with uninspiring pre-season performances, the weekend draw with Hearts, and the temporary relocation to Hampden, has led to discontent among supporters.

Before the match, fans had said that he had never seen the fans as low since their financial problems that caused them to be relegated to the Scottish four tier twelve years ago. 

That mood seemed destined to hit rock bottom as the clock ticked towards the 94th minute, but the small group of travelling fans were ecstatic when Dessers expertly finished Vaclav Cerny's fine cross.

The striker had been denied earlier when his glancing header was superbly tipped away by Heorhiy Bushchan, whose involvement was limited due to 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, just minutes after Vladyslav Vanat had been denied an opener by the offside flag.

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

Rangers were guilty of losing possession and being too easy to play through at times, but their unquestionable work rate forced the Ukrainians into their own errors.

It seemed Clement's side would not be rewarded for their effort until new signing Cerny came off the bench to provide Dessers with a potentially defining moment in the tie.

Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) 

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