Victor Osimhen's impactful first-half performance led Galatasaray to a crucial 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Istanbul, propelling the Turkish club to the top of their Europa League group standings.
The Nigerian forward's brace helped Galatasaray overcome Spurs in a tightly contested match, though he noted afterward that he felt he "could have scored more," expressing regret over missed opportunities.
The defeat marked Tottenham’s first loss in the European competition this season and may jeopardize their standing in the top eight, depending on results from other group matches.
Galatasaray set the tone early, going up just six minutes into the game. Yunus Akgun opened the scoring with a remarkable left-footed shot into the top corner, capitalizing on Archie Gray’s errant headed clearance.
Tottenham managed to level the score shortly after, with Will Lankshear finding the net for his first senior goal, converting a well-placed cross from Brennan Johnson.
Galatasaray quickly reclaimed control, taking advantage of a defensive error by Spurs’ Radu Dragusin. The mistake allowed Osimhen to score with a smooth finish, restoring Galatasaray’s lead.
Osimhen’s dominance continued as he netted his second goal just six minutes before the halftime whistle. This time, Dries Mertens delivered a precise cross, which Osimhen directed past Fraser Forster to make it 3-1.
Tottenham's struggles mounted after Lankshear was shown a red card at the 60-minute mark, following a second yellow card for a late challenge on Gabriel Sara.
Despite being down a player, Spurs continued to press and found hope in the 69th minute. Substitute Dominic Solanke scored, flicking in a cross from Pedro Porro to reduce Galatasaray’s lead to one goal.
In the end, Galatasaray’s defense held strong, securing the 3-2 win. The result granted them the group’s top position and intensified the challenges for Tottenham in the upcoming matches.