10th November, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Nigerian star Victor Osimhen scored twice on Sunday, helping Galatasaray to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Samsunspor at home and extending their lead to five points at the top of the league.
Osimhen opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a superb header, leaping high to meet a cross and powering the ball into the right post. His early goal set the tone for a heated contest at the Galatasaray stadium.
Osimhen had another chance in the 26th minute when he found himself unmarked near the penalty spot. However, he missed the opportunity, sending his header high over the bar.
Samsunspor had a breakthrough in the 48th minute when Davinson Sanchez conceded a penalty for dangerous play. Olivier Ntcham stepped up and calmly converted, slotting the ball down the centre to bring the score level at 1-1.
Galatasaray quickly reclaimed the lead in the 55th minute. A rebound fell kindly to Osimhen, who scored his second goal of the match with a powerful header, restoring the home side’s advantage at 2-1.
Despite some impressive saves from Samsunspor’s Okan Kocuk, Galatasaray continued to press, with Baris Alper Yilmaz coming close to scoring in the 59th minute and Abdulkerim Bardakci hitting the post shortly after.
In the 85th minute, Michy Batshuayi added to Galatasaray’s lead, finding space in the box and slotting a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner, bringing the score to 3-1.
The match took another turn in stoppage time. Following a VAR review, Samsunspor were awarded a penalty, and Youssef Ait Bennasser successfully converted it in the 93rd minute, placing the ball in the bottom right corner.
Despite the late drama, Galatasaray held on to their lead, securing a hard-fought 3-2 win that keeps them firmly at the top of the table.
