In a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored his seventh goal of the season to help 10-man Galatasaray secure a 3-2 win over Sivasspor on Sunday.
The match kicked off with high hopes for the visitors as Osimhen had a chance to make an early impact. In the 8th minute, he fired a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target, flashing just wide of the post.
The game, however, took a dramatic twist in the 15th minute. Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltaci was sent off after a VAR review, leaving his team with just ten men on the field.
Sivasspor, now with the numerical advantage, capitalised on the situation. In the 25th minute, Garry Rodrigues found himself in the right place at the right time, pouncing on a rebound from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Rodrigues smashed the ball into the roof of the net, giving Sivasspor a 1-0 lead.
But Galatasaray quickly responded. Yunus Akgun found the equaliser in the 36th minute when his shot benefitted from a goalkeeping error. The ball rolled past the keeper to level the score at 1-1.
In stoppage time, Osimhen had another chance. A perfectly placed header seemed destined to put his side ahead, but Sivasspor goalkeeper, Yavuz Akay, produced a superb save to deny the Nigerian forward.
Just as the first half was about to close, a moment of controversy added more drama. A foul by Djordje Nikolic resulted in a penalty for Galatasaray. Osimhen stepped up to take the spot-kick, and with precision and confidence, he sent the ball into the top right corner, putting Galatasaray 2-1 ahead just before the break.
As the second half began, Galatasaray looked determined to extend their lead despite the man disadvantage. In the 53rd minute, Baris Alper Yilmaz struck a well-timed shot, assisted by Akgun, to make it 3-1, giving the visitors a two-goal cushion.
Sivasspor, however, were not done. In the dying moments of the match, they threw everything they had at Galatasaray. In added time, Turac Boke found the back of the net after meeting a cross from Noah Sonko Sundberg, reducing the deficit to 3-2.
With the match winding down, Sivasspor pushed for an equaliser, and there was a tense moment in stoppage time when the referee reviewed a potential red card for Galatasaray’s Okan Kocuk. However, the decision was not made, and the visitors held firm to secure a vital 3-2 victory.
“Even with ten men, we showed incredible strength,” said Galatasaray coach. “Victor Osimhen was crucial to our performance, and he stepped up when it mattered most.”
Osimhen’s goal and overall performance were critical in securing all three points for his team. “I’m happy to contribute to the team’s success,” Osimhen said after the match. “It was a difficult game, but we kept fighting, and in the end, we got the result we needed.”
This hard-fought victory showcased Galatasaray’s resilience, particularly with a man down for most of the game. Despite the late pressure from Sivasspor, Galatasaray held on to claim the three points.
