Osamagbe Imadiyi
Galatasaray defeated Tottenham 3-2 in Istanbul on Thursday, their first Europa League loss of the season, thanks to two goals from Victor Osimhen. The team moved up to the top of the table. With 10 points from four games, the Turkish champions have virtually guaranteed their spot in the knockout play-off round, while Spurs are currently in fifth place following their loss of their perfect record.
In the sixth minute, Yunus Akgun struck a spectacular long-range volley into the top corner to give Galatasaray the lead. However, the visitors responded within 12 minutes when Will Lankshear, a teenage striker, scored a goal in just his second first-team appearance by tapping in Brennan Johnson’s cross-goal.
However, Galatasaray took the lead just before halftime after Osimhen scored twice in eight minutes. Shortly after the half, the Nigerian player gave them the lead again before deftly volleying Dries Mertens’ cross past Fraser Forster, the Tottenham goalie. Since joining on loan from Napoli, Osimhen has made eight appearances for Galatasaray and scored six goals.
The home team missed multiple chances to keep their opponents out of the game, but Spurs’ hopes of a comeback were dashed when Lankshear was sent off for two consecutive yellow-card offenses in the second half. Ange Postecoglou brought on Dominic Solanke, who pulled one back in the 69th minute, but Galatasaray held on comfortably.