Nigeria international Cyriel Dessers scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Panathinaikos defeated CSKA 1948 2-1 in Sofia on Tuesday to reach the UEFA Conference League play-off round.

Dessers struck in the 94th minute at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, restoring Panathinaikos’ lead just two minutes after Lasha Dvali had equalised for the Bulgarian side.

The victory secured a 3-2 aggregate win for Panathinaikos after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Athens on August 5.

Panathinaikos took the lead in the 66th minute when Levi Garcia found the bottom corner from a difficult angle. CSKA 1948 levelled in the 92nd minute through Dvali, forcing the tie into extra time.

Dessers then produced the decisive moment, reacting quickly inside the box to fire a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner and send the Greek side through.

The result completed a dramatic turnaround for Panathinaikos, who had been held to a draw in the opening leg. Adriano Jagusic had put the Greek side ahead in the 21st minute before Georgi Rusev equalised for the visitors 10 minutes later.

Panathinaikos created several chances to regain the lead in Athens, but CSKA goalkeeper Petar Marinov made a strong save to deny De Vrij, while Gasevic later struck the crossbar as the Bulgarian side finished strongly.

The second-leg victory means Panathinaikos will now contest the Conference League play-off round, with Dessers’ late intervention proving decisive.

Dessers recently returned to full training with Panathinaikos after spending about six months sidelined with a thigh injury. His goal in Sofia marked a significant return to competitive action and helped keep the club’s European campaign alive.