Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored the opening goal for Galatasaray as they secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Fenerbahçe in the Istanbul derby, Soccernet.ng reports.
After spending several weeks on the sidelines with an arm injury, Osimhen returned to action for the highly anticipated clash against city rivals Fenerbahçe. While both teams are Turkey’s most prestigious based on pedigree and squad depth, the Cimbom had the full backing of the home crowd at Rams Park.
Beyond the historical rivalry, league glory was at stake, as the result could prove pivotal in the race for the Süper Lig title.
Both sides hit the ground running from the opening whistle. Osimhen, sporting new protective gear on his arm, appeared hungry and enthusiastic, constantly hassling and probing the opposition defense.
However, its was side that nearly went behind early on, as Fenerbahçe missed a golden opportunity to draw first blood in the 14th minute.
They were awarded a penalty after Davinson Sánchez was adjudged to have fouled Sidiki Cherif in the box. Talisca stepped up to take the spot-kick but dragged it wide, giving the Cimbom a massive reprieve.
Osimhen continued to work tirelessly, finding himself in several promising positions. Given the intensity he brought to the game, a goal felt inevitable. In the 38th minute, he went down following a challenge from a Fenerbahçe defender and appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved play on after a brief VAR review.
The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute. Following a cross into the area, Osimhen latched onto a flick-on from Mario Lemina, unconventionally controlled the ball with his forehead, and then nudged it into the net with his thigh to make it 1-0.
Galatasaray maintained their dominance into the second half. The reigning Süper Lig champions thought they had doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Lucas Torreira, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
However, the Cimbom were not to be denied. In the 65th minute, they were awarded a penalty after Yunus Akgün was fouled. Adding to Fenerbahçe’s woes, goalkeeper Ederson was sent off for a second bookable offense.
Osimhen would usually take the penalty, but he stepped aside for Barış Alper Yılmaz, who converted with aplomb to make it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
In the 83rd minute, Torreira finally got his goal capitalizing on a mistake from the Fenerbahce backline to score the third for the Cimbom and effectively sealing the victory. Late in the match, Osimhen was involved in a brief scuffle with a Fenerbahçe player, resulting in a yellow card from referee Yasin Kol.
The match ended 3-0 at Rams Park, marking a statement win for the league leaders.
More to follow…
