Victor Osimhen is back, and Galatasaray felt it straight away. The Nigerian striker came off the bench on Friday and helped the ten-man hosts beat Kasımpaşa 3-1 in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Back After Five Weeks
Osimhen had not played since September 4. He replaced Deniz Gül in the 77th minute at RAMS Park. By then, the game was tied at 1-1.
His influence showed quickly. Galatasaray then scored twice before the final whistle.
The Pass That Set Up the Third
Barış Alper Yılmaz put the hosts ahead again in the 90th minute. Then came the decisive moment in stoppage time. Osimhen’s pass started the move, and Mario Lemina dribbled past a defender before scoring. That goal came in the 90+6 minute and made it 3-1.
How the Game Turned
Galatasaray led at halftime. Defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı headed in a free-kick from Aleksey Batrakov in the 45th minute.
Then the match swung. VAR upgraded Lucas Torreira’s yellow card to a red in the 65th minute. The referee ruled that he had denied a clear goalscoring chance.
Kasımpaşa made the extra man count three minutes later. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalised after Galatasaray failed to clear a corner.
Top of the Table
The win lifts Galatasaray to 16 points from seven games. They now sit three points above Amed SK, who have 13 points and a game in hand.
For Kasımpaşa, it was a first league defeat of the season. They stay on 10 points.
How the Injury Happened
Osimhen went down in the 33rd minute of a 3-2 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4. He had scored the opening goal in that game. Tests later showed a strain in his right adductor muscle group.
He missed three matches for his club. These included the Champions League opener against Sporting CP, as well as league games against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor. He also pulled out of Eric Chelle’s Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Before the setback, the 27-year-old was in sharp form. He had scored six goals and made two assists in his first four league games.
Barcelona Next
The timing is good for Galatasaray. They will host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13. Osimhen’s return gives the Turkish champions a major boost before that test.
