Cyriel Dessers Nets Hat-Trick in Rangers’ Comfortable Cup Win
Cyriel Dessers was the star of the show for Rangers, scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 victory over Highland League side Fraserburgh in the League Cup. The win saw Rangers secure a place in the fifth round of the competition.
Dessers, who has had limited starts this season, was given a rare chance to lead the line and made the most of it. He was joined on the scoresheet by Clinton Nsiala and Ross McCausland, who also found the net in a dominant display by Rangers.
Despite being in ninth place in their league and not playing since December, Fraserburgh fought hard and managed to keep the game at 1-0 in Rangers’ favour at halftime. The part-time side showed plenty of heart but struggled to match the quality of their top-flight opponents.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement took the opportunity to give some of his fringe players valuable minutes, including Dessers, who had lost his starting spot to Hamza Igamane earlier in the season. The 30-year-old striker hadn’t started for Rangers since the end of November.
Dessers opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a simple header from a corner, one of the few real chances Rangers created in the first half. The second half saw a more clinical performance from the Scottish side. Nsiala doubled their lead in the 52nd minute with a deflected shot, before Dessers added his second goal.
McCausland made it 4-0 in the 75th minute, and Dessers completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal the victory.
It remains to be seen if Dessers will regain his place in the starting lineup following his impressive performance, but he will certainly have given manager Clement something to think about.
