Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen was the hero for nine-man Galatasaray, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahce in their Turkish Cup quarter-final clash on Wednesday at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
Osimhen’s brace took his season tally to 28 goals and five assists, underlining his crucial role in Galatasaray’s push for silverware.
The Super Eagles forward opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing powerfully inside the box to give Galatasaray the lead.
He doubled the advantage in the 27th minute from the penalty spot after Mauro Icardi was fouled in the area.
This marks the sixth out of the last seven matches in which Osimhen has scored. Over these six games, including national team appearances, he has tallied 11 goals.
In total, he has scored 28 goals in 32 matches for Galatasaray. Including his national team, this goal becomes his 33rd of the current season. The 26-year-old forward is in fantastic form.
Despite the early dominance, Fenerbahce pulled one back before halftime, with Sebastian Szymański sparking hopes of a comeback for the hosts.
The second half saw Fenerbahce dominate possession, but they struggled to break down a resilient Galatasaray defence, which was further tested when Kerem Demirbay and Burak Yılmaz were both sent off in stoppage time.
Even with nine men, Galatasaray held firm to book a spot in the semi-finals, keeping their hopes alive for a domestic double, as they also continue their chase for the Turkish Süper Lig title.
Osimhen’s match-winning display further cements his reputation as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers, with his performance proving decisive in yet another high-stakes encounter.
