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Nigerian Cyriel Dessers’ heroic night spoiled by Moroccan Ayoub El Kaabi’s late equalizer

Issa Said September 22, 2025

Cyriel Dessers came close to a memorable debut in the Greek Super League, only for Panathinaikos’ hopes of a victory to be dashed by a last-gasp goal from Ayoub El Kaabi.

The Nigerian international believed he had secured a fairy-tale moment after opening the scoring in Panathinaikos’ clash with league leaders Olympiakos on Sunday.

The striker, who had yet to score in the league for his new club, found the net shortly after the interval, sending the home fans into raptures and giving his team a slender advantage.

For much of the match, it appeared that Dessers’ goal would be enough to claim all three points. The Panathinaikos forward displayed composure and instinct in front of goal, capitalizing on a well-constructed team move to slot the ball past the Olympiakos goalkeeper.

His performance throughout the contest suggested that he could be the key figure in a crucial upset over the reigning league leaders.

However, the evening took an unexpected turn in stoppage time. Moroccan international Ayoub El Kaabi struck to level the score, extinguishing the heroics of Dessers and leaving Panathinaikos with a 1-1 draw.

The dramatic equalizer denied the home side a potentially crucial victory and ensured that Dessers’ maiden league goal was not enough to change the outcome.

Despite the late disappointment, Dessers’ display highlighted his quality and adaptability in the Greek top flight. His movement, link-up play, and finishing ability offered glimpses of the attacking threat he can pose for Panathinaikos in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, El Kaabi’s intervention reminded fans and players alike of the unpredictability of football, where a single moment can undo the efforts of an entire match.

The draw leaves Panathinaikos with a mixed sense of achievement. On one hand, they managed to take a point against the league leaders; on the other, the chance to claim all three points—and see Dessers celebrated as a hero—slipped away in the final moments.

Olympiakos, by salvaging a late point, continue to assert their dominance at the top of the table, while Panathinaikos must regroup and aim to turn promising performances into consistent results.

For Cyriel Dessers, the match is both a milestone and a motivator. Scoring his first league goal is an important personal achievement, even if the occasion was bittersweet.

Fans will hope that his continued contributions will translate into victories for Panathinaikos, and that future outings provide the striker with the opportunity to celebrate fully, without the heartbreak of last-minute interventions.