Champion League

Victor Osimhen Fires Galatasaray Into Champions League Last 16 After Juventus Thriller

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42 seconds ago

10:23 am

Victor Osimhen Fires Galatasaray Into Champions League Last 16 After Juventus Thriller

Victor Osimhen struck in extra time as Galatasaray S.K. survived a dramatic fightback from 10-man Juventus F.C. to book their place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Holding a commanding 5–2 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul, the Turkish champions appeared firmly in control. However, Juventus mounted a spirited comeback in Turin, threatening to become only the fourth side in competition history to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit in the knockout stages.

Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli sparked belief with a composed first-half penalty after Lucas Torreira fouled Khephren Thuram inside the area.

The hosts’ challenge intensified when defender Lloyd Kelly was sent off in the 49th minute, his second yellow card upgraded to a straight red following a VAR review. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Juventus refused to back down.

Federico Gatti bundled home from close range after a delivery by Pierre Kalulu to keep hopes alive, before Weston McKennie headed in with eight minutes remaining to level the tie at 5–5 on aggregate, sending the Allianz Stadium into raptures.

As fatigue crept in during extra time and Juventus missed further chances, Galatasaray regained composure. Osimhen calmly slotted low after being picked out by Barış Alper Yılmaz to restore the visitors’ lead in a pulsating contest.

Yılmaz then put the tie beyond doubt, racing clear on the counter before finishing past Mattia Perin to seal a memorable victory.

Galatasaray advance to the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since the 2013–14 season, where they will face either Liverpool F.C. or Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the next round.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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