A stunning hat-trick from Cyriel Dessers, along with goals from Clinton Nsiala and Ross McCausland, inspired Rangers to a commanding 5-0 victory over lower-division side Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
The win secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Dessers, whose time at Rangers has been clouded by criticism and limited game time, seized the opportunity handed to him by manager Philippe Clement.
The Nigerian striker, often sidelined by the emergence of Hamza Imgane and the return of Danilo, reminded fans of his capabilities with an unforgettable performance.
The 30-year-old endured a shaky start, missing a golden opportunity in the 6th minute, which drew groans from the Gers faithful. However, he bounced back emphatically, opening the scoring in the 27th minute to set Rangers on their way.
Beyond his hat-trick, Dessers displayed his playmaking skills, providing an assist in the dominant win.
His contributions extended beyond Sunday’s game, as he was also on target in Rangers’ 3-0 Premiership win over Aberdeen midweek.
Rangers, winners of the Scottish Cup 34 times, remain in pursuit of Celtic’s record of 42 titles. They’ll discover their round-of-16 opponent after Monday night’s draw.
Meanwhile, Moses Simon was on target for Nantes in their 1-1 draw against Saint-Étienne at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday afternoon.
Simon opened the scoring for the Yellow Canaries in the 14th minute, taking his tally for the season to five goals alongside five assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances.
However, Nantes were denied all three points as Augustine Boakye struck late in the 86th minute to salvage a draw for Saint-Étienne.
Both teams remain in the relegation zone following the stalemate. Nantes sit 15th, while Saint-Étienne are in 16th, with both sides tied on 17 points.
