Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen provided two assists to help Galatasaray move one step closer to reaching the UEFA Champions League round of 16 as they secured a thrilling 5-2 victory over Juventus in the first leg of their knockout phase play-off clash on Tuesday.
The Turkish Champions came into the game looking to make home advantage count and gain a healthy lead before the second leg in Turin next week. They did so in style, coming from behind to defeat the Italian giants in an entertaining encounter.
Galatasaray had gained an early lead when Gabriel Sara found the net after mistakes at the back from the visitors. However, Juventus got an instant response when Koopmeiners scored seconds later, leveling the score line. In the 32nd minute, the Dutch midfielder fired the away side into the lead, giving them the advantage going into halftime.
Determined not to lose, the hosts turned the game around in the second half as Noa Lang tapped in a rebound from close range to equalise before Davinson Sanchez scored with a fine header on the hour mark, making it 3-2 to Galatasaray.
More Read
Few minutes after the goal, things went from bad to worse for Juventus as Juan Cabal who came on at halftime was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the visitors down to ten men. Galatasaray took full advantage of the numerical superiority to extend their lead.
In the 75th minute, Osimhen assisted Noa Lang to get his second goal of the night and Galatasaray’s fourth. 11 minutes later, the Nigerian International turned provider once again, assisting Sacha Boey to make it 5-2.
The heavy defeat marks the first time ever that Juventus have conceded five goals in a Champions League match. The Italian side will be hoping to engineer a miracle in the second leg to ensure their run in Europe this season does not come to an end.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has now provided two assists in back to back games, showcasing his ability to create chances and not just score goals. The striker will be aiming to lead Galatasaray once again, as they look to finish the job in Turin next week.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
