Victor Osimhen showed why his absence has been sorely felt, scoring the only goal of the game to help Galatasaray upset Liverpool.
The Super Eagles striker was absent for the 5-1 defeat to Frankfurt as he was out injured. He returned to the starting lineup for the first time in over a month to score the winner against Liverpool from the penalty spot.
A clumsy foul from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 16th minute gifted the Turkish champions a penalty. Osimehn stepped up and dispatched with aplomb. Both teams had chances after that point, but neither affected the scoreline.
From kickoff, Liverpool tried to impose themselves with high possession, but Galatasaray defended compactly with a plan of hitting Liverpool on the break.
The strategy worked to perfection, leading to the game’s turning point in the 16th minute, when Szoboszlai hit Barış Alper Yılmaz in the box with a clumsy challenge borne out of a Cim-Bom transition move.
Osimhen stepped up and sent Alisson the wrong way with a right-footed shot down the middle, making it 1-0. Liverpool responded with possession dominance, but clear chances were few. Osimhen nearly doubled the advantage just before and just after half-time with dangerous runs, but both attempts were kept out by Alisson.
In the second half, Liverpool introduced Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak (among other changes) in the 62nd minute, hoping to sharpen their attacking edge.
They had a potential lifeline in the 88th minute when Konaté appeared to be fouled by Singo in the box, earning a penalty, only for VAR to rule it out after review.
Galatasaray held first, beating Arne Slot’s side to ensure the Reds’ run of losses extended to two matches after losing to Crystal Palace over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Osimhen is now the most dominant Nigerian striker in Champions League history, as his goal against Liverpool took his tally above his compatriots.
The 26-year-old is a seasoned record setter. He has now added one more feather to his already fluffy cap, becoming the top scoring Nigerian in Champions League history and the first to reach double figures.
While the Nigerian was stuck in the infirmary, convalescing from an injury sustained on international duty, his Galatasaray suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat in the UCL opener against Frankfurt.
He returned for ten minutes again against Antalyaspor last Friday and was immediately slotted into the starting lineup for the crucial clash against Liverpool.
He immediately went about proving his worth, giving the Cim-Bom the lead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after a clumsy foul from Dominik Szoboszlai on Yunus Akgun.
The goal took the Nigerian’s tally in the UCL to 10 goals. He also became the first Nigeria international to reach double figures in the competition, effectively becoming the top-scoring player in the UCL from the West African nation.
Top ten Nigerian scorers in the UCL
1. Osimhen (Lille/Napoli/Galatasaray): 10 goals
2. Obafemi Martins (Inter): 9 goals
3. Victor Ikpeba (Monaco): 7 goals
4. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta): 5 goals
5. Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Maccabi Haifa): 5 goals
6. Kanu Nwankwo (Ajax/Arsenal): 5 goals
7. Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow): 3 goals
8. Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United): 3 goals
9. Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow): 2
10. Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City): 2
