Osimhen caged in narrow Gala win

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was kept quiet by the Genclerbirligi defence and goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat as Galatasaray scraped a 1-0 win in Ankara on Saturday, a game decided by a late own goal from the same goalkeeper, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 27-year-old played all 90 minutes at the Eryaman Stadium in a Matchweek 8 fixture and was the most dangerous player on the pitch. He had the most shots in the game with seven, but only two were on target, with two blocked and three off target.

He also had 10 touches inside the opposition box, the most of any player.

Egribayat denied him repeatedly. His best stop came from a close-range header that looked destined for the net, and Osimhen clutched his head in disbelief. As the second half wore on, the Genclerbirligi defence stayed physical and the striker’s frustration grew.

Genclerbirligi looked set for a draw until the 88th minute, when substitute Deniz Gül put Galatasaray under pressure and the goalkeeper handled the ball poorly and turned it into his own net.

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The reigning champions needed the points to change the club mood after a 4-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, which left them without a point from their opening two games in the competition.

Osimhen did more than shoot. He made two key passes, created one big chance that his teammates failed to take, won six of his 10 duels and completed 75 per cent of his passes. He also recorded one clearance and one recovery. Sofascore gave him a rating of 6.8, and he was booked for celebrating the winning goal excessively.

The result ended his run of scoring or providing an assist in each of his previous 18 league games for Galatasaray since December. In that spell he scored 18 goals and set up eight. He returned from a 35-day injury layoff last weekend also getting an assist in that game.

Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır was Galatasaray’s best performer, with six saves, four of them inside the box, and a rating of 8.8, the highest on the pitch.

Galatasaray face Lille in the Champions League and Fenerbahçe in the league over the next nine days, and Osimhen will hope to begin another productive run.