Cyriel Dessers fired Panathinaikos into the Conference League play-offs with a decisive extra-time goal against CSKA 1948 in Sofia

Nigeria international Cyriel Dessers, 31, fired Panathinaikos into the UEFA Conference League play-off round at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, scoring the decisive goal in a dramatic 2-1 victory over CSKA 1948.

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Dessers, who came on in the 65th minute, struck in the 94th minute to restore Panathinaikos’ lead after the Bulgarian hosts had levelled late in the second half. The victory sent the Greek club through 3-2 on aggregate.

The result capped a remarkable European night for Dessers, who had only recently returned from a lengthy injury lay-off and was introduced from the bench as Panathinaikos sought to protect its advantage in a finely balanced tie.

Panathinaikos appeared to have taken control when Levi García put the visitors ahead in the 60th minute. CSKA 1948, however, refused to fade and Lasha Dvali equalised in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finish.

Dessers then provided the decisive response. After entering the contest less than half an hour earlier, the Super Eagles forward found the breakthrough that sent Panathinaikos into the next stage of European competition.

The goal was particularly significant given the difficult period Dessers endured during his first season in Greece.

The striker missed a substantial part of the 2025/26 campaign because of a thigh injury.

Dessers’ last appearance before the injury setback came in Panathinaikos’ 2-1 league victory over Volos on 12 December 2025, when he scored before joining up with Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

He subsequently returned to his club with a thigh problem and missed 27 matches across competitions.

His return gathered momentum during the summer. In July, Dessers confirmed that he had resumed full training with Panathinaikos and was determined to regain his fitness after what he described as one of the most difficult seasons of his career.

“It has been difficult, a season with many injuries. For the first time in my career, actually, so I had to get used to that,” Dessers said.

He also made clear that he wanted to repay the faith shown in him by the club and its supporters after Panathinaikos paid €4.63 million to sign him from Rangers in September 2025.

“Especially because the club paid a nice transfer fee for me, I just want to give something back to them. For the fans, too, of course,” Dessers said.

That desire was given a powerful expression in Sofia, where his late intervention proved more than a personal comeback moment.

It preserved Panathinaikos’ European campaign after CSKA 1948 had threatened to take the tie beyond the Greek side’s control.

The second-leg victory also completed the turnaround from last week’s opening encounter in Athens.

Panathinaikos and CSKA 1948 had drawn 1-1 in the first leg on 5 August, leaving the qualification contest delicately poised ahead of the trip to Bulgaria.

ESPN’s match record confirms that Panathinaikos ultimately prevailed 2-1 after extra time, with Dessers’ 94th-minute strike deciding the tie and giving the Greek side a 3-2 aggregate victory.

For Panathinaikos, the result keeps the club’s European ambitions alive and moves the side into the Conference League play-off round.

For Dessers, the goal offers an encouraging early sign that the long injury ordeal may finally be behind him.

The Nigeria forward had spoken before the season of wanting to return to full fitness, score goals and help Panathinaikos compete for trophies.

His decisive contribution in Sofia could therefore become an important marker in a campaign that began with uncertainty.

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After months spent recovering away from competitive football, Dessers returned to the European stage at precisely the moment Panathinaikos needed him most.