Victor Osimhen scored a first-half brace as Galatasaray overpowered Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in Thursday’s Europa League encounter.
Following victories over Manchester City and Aston Villa their last time out, Spurs travelled to the Rams Park hoping to maintain their winning streak.
However, they were stunned by the Turkish topflight side in the five-goal thriller with the reigning African Player of the Year the key protagonist.
Gala made their intentions to win known as early as the sixth minute when Yunus Akgun put them after his stunning volley beat goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Twelve minutes later, the Premier League side levelled matters through Will Lankshear who scored his first goal for the club by tapping in Brennan Johnson’s cross.
That goal was a wake-up for the hosts as they regained their lead in the 31st minute as Osimhen drilled a shot into the bottom corner after Mauro Icardi won the ball high up the pitch.
The reigning African best completed his double eighth minute later but he was unlucky not to have netted a hat-trick as it was chalked off for offside.
Ange Postecoglou’s side suffered a major setback following Lankshear’s dismissal for a second cautioned received. Regardless, they were able to get a second goal in the 69th minute thanks to Dominic Solanke.
Yet, that counted for nothing as they returned home with heads bowed low in what is their first defeat in the league phase.
On the other hand, Gala have 10 points from their four matches and are already on the verge of confirming their place in the knockout stages.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
