Rangers delivered a thrilling comeback victory against Dundee United, securing a 3-1 win in a fiery encounter at Tannadice. Goals from Mohamed Diomande, Robin Propper, and Cyriel Dessers ensured the Light Blues left with all three points, despite a shaky start and some controversial refereeing decisions.

First Half: Battling Back After a Tough Start

Dundee United started brightly and took the lead through Sam Dalby after 20 minutes. A long throw into the Rangers box caused chaos, and Dalby capitalised, smashing a powerful strike past Jack Butland. It was a deserved opener for the home side, who had looked threatening from the off.

Rangers struggled to find their rhythm early on, but the team showed resilience to level the score before the break. Mohamed Diomande, returning from suspension, struck a sensational equaliser in the 37th minute. After some clever play from Ianis Hagi and James Tavernier to work the ball into the midfielder’s path, Diomande unleashed a stunning right-footed effort from outside the box that left Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Walton with no chance.

As the first half wore on, Rangers began to impose themselves. Nico Raskin saw a long-range effort deflected wide, and Walton produced a brilliant double save to deny Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami in quick succession. Despite the chances, the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Second Half: Dominance and Drama

Rangers came out flying in the second half and took the lead just four minutes after the restart. Centre-back Robin Propper, still forward from a corner, showed his composure with a clinical finish inside the box after a well-placed ball from Hagi. The Dutchman’s goal was his first for the club and a crucial moment in the match.

The second half was not without controversy. Rangers were denied what looked to be a clear penalty when a Dundee United defender appeared to handle the ball in the box, a decision that left fans and players baffled—particularly given the penalties awarded against Nico Raskin and Hamza Igamane in recent weeks for seemingly less obvious offences.

As the game wore on, Rangers remained in control, with Jack Butland making some smart saves to keep the home side at bay. Dessers thought he had a second goal, only for VAR to rule it out for offside in the build-up. However, the Nigerian striker eventually got his reward in the closing minutes. Substitute Zak Lovelace played a perfect pass to Dessers, who unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to seal the win. That goal marked Dessers’ sixth in four games—a remarkable run of form.

Late Drama: Diomande Sees Red

The match ended on a sour note as Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card deep into injury time following an altercation with Kevin Holt. VAR upheld the decision, leaving Rangers to finish the game with ten men. The dismissal will see Diomande miss upcoming matches, a blow for Rangers given his excellent performance.

The midfielder’s stunning goal was overshadowed by his late red card, a decision that will likely spark debate given the circumstances of the incident.

Dessers’ Hot Streak

The striker’s superb finish capped off another strong performance, as he continues to lead the line with confidence and quality.

Refereeing Questions

VAR and Referee decisions—or the lack of them—again became a talking point, particularly around the handball incident in Dundee United’s box and the Diomande red card.

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