Victor Osimhen delivered a decisive performance in the bitter cold of eastern Turkey, scoring twice and creating another goal as Galatasaray began their away campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Erzurumspor FK on Thursday.
Galatasaray Strike Early
The visitors immediately took control at Kazım Karabekir Stadyumu. In the 12th minute, Roland Sallai connected with a corner and sent a fierce left-footed volley beyond the goalkeeper to put the Yellow-Reds ahead.
Erzurumspor were soon facing an even greater deficit. Osimhen surged forward before finding Yunus Akgün, and the winger calmly placed his finish into the net for 2-0.
Osimhen Takes Centre Stage
The Nigerian forward then added his own name to the scoresheet just before the interval. After reacting quickest to a loose ball, Osimhen steadied himself and struck accurately with his right foot, sending Galatasaray into half-time with a three-goal advantage.
The home side attempted to respond after the restart, with the supporters raising their voices and the substitutes providing fresh energy. However, Erzurumspor repeatedly failed to produce an effective final pass against Galatasaray’s disciplined defence.
- Roland Sallai opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
- Yunus Akgün doubled the lead after Osimhen’s assist.
- Osimhen made it 3-0 shortly before half-time.
- The striker completed his brace in the 80th minute.
Second Goal Seals a Comfortable Win
Galatasaray delivered the final blow with 10 minutes remaining. Gabriel Sara split the defence with a precise pass, allowing Osimhen to race through. He needed only one touch before driving a low finish into the centre of the goal for 4-0. The goal was his second of the match and gave him three direct goal contributions overall.
The numbers reflected Galatasaray’s superiority, even though the possession figures were close, with the visitors holding 51 per cent compared with Erzurumspor’s 49. Galatasaray also registered 2.56 expected goals against 0.49 and produced four major chances, while the hosts created none.
Referee Cagdas Altay issued just one yellow card during the match. By the final whistle, Galatasaray had transformed a demanding trip into a comfortable procession, with Osimhen at the heart of the celebration.
