Osimhen shines in comeback as Galatasaray wins

Victor Osimhen came off the bench after his injury and helped Galatasaray beat Kasımpaşa 3-1 in the Turkish Süper Lig at RAMS Park on Friday. The team played with 10 men but still got the win. Osimhen replaced Deniz Gül in the 77th minute. This was his first game since he got hurt on September 4. The score was tied at 1-1 when he entered the match. Galatasaray scored two late goals to secure the victory.

Galatasaray took the lead in the 45th minute thanks to defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı. He scored with a header from Aleksey Batrakov’s free-kick. Things got tough for Galatasaray in the 65th minute when midfielder Lucas Torreira was sent off. A VAR review changed his yellow card to red for denying a clear chance to score.

Kasımpaşa quickly took advantage of the situation. Just three minutes later, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalised after Galatasaray could not clear a corner kick. Osimhen's entrance changed the game for Galatasaray.

In the 90th minute, Barış Alper Yılmaz scored to put Galatasaray back in the lead. Then in the 90+6 minute, Osimhen made a key pass that helped Mario Lemina dribble past a defender and score the third goal.

This win puts Galatasaray at the top of the table with 16 points from seven matches. They are three points ahead of Amed SK, who have 13 points and one game in hand. Kasımpaşa faced their first league loss of the season and remain at 10 points.

Osimhen got injured in the 33rd minute of Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4. He had scored the first goal in that match. Tests revealed a strain in his right adductor muscle.

He missed the Champions League opener against Sporting CP, as well as league games against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor. He also had to leave Eric Chelle’s Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Before his injury, the 27-year-old had scored six goals and made two assists in his first four league games. His comeback is important for Galatasaray as they prepare to host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13.