Dessers nets brace on return from injury as Cremonese fall to narrow defeat

Super Eagles and Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers marked his return from injury with two well-taken goals as his side fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sassuolo in Serie A. The striker took his league tally to five goals for the struggling side.

The 28-year-old Dessers had been out of action since suffering a minor injury in early February that caused him to miss his side’s defeat to Napoli. The former Feyenoord man was however on the bench for each of his side’s last two games, including their narrow win over AS Roma.

Both Cremonese and Sassuolo were on the hunt for a second consecutive win, but it was the home side that drew first blood in the encounter. Striker Arnaud Lauriente opened the scoring for Sassuolo after only 26 minutes before turning provider for David Frattesi to make it two 15 minutes later.

Dessers was introduced off the bench at half-time, replacing Ghanaian youngster Felix Afena-Gyan. The striker registered his name on the scoresheet in the 62nd minute as he displayed a calm head to finish from inside the box.

With the match slipping away, Dessers found a leveller for his side in the 83rd minute. He was found by a long ball from goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi before going round the Sassuolo goalkeeper and expertly guiding the ball beyond the retreating defender on the line.

The Super Eagles star thought he had earned his side a point from their travels, but Sassuolo had the final say. Lauriente teed up substitute Nedim Bajrami to fire home a winner in added time to seal the win for Sassuolo.

David Okereke was also in action for Cremonese, lasting 66 minutes before he was hauled off.

Dessers has become the first Cremonese player to score twice in a Serie A game since Andrea Tentoni in 1996.