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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored a brace for Galatasaray as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Çorum in their opening match of the Süper Lig season, Soccernet.ng reports.
A Goalless First Half
Süper Lig champions Galatasaray kicked off their 2026/2027 campaign with a fixture against newly promoted Çorum at Rams Park. Going into the match, Cimbom were the overwhelming favorites due to their status as reigning champions and superior squad quality.
As expected, they dominated the early proceedings, bossing the midfield. Osimhen made his presence felt early on, lurking inside the box and waiting for opportunities to pounce.
Victor Osimhen 45 and Ilkay Gundogan 20 of Galatasaray. Photo by: ImagoxSeskimphoto Abdulkerim Bardakcı had the first real opportunity of the game, connecting with a corner kick cross, but he failed to direct his header on target.
Osimhen earned his first genuine chance in the 15th minute, outjumping his marker to power a header toward goal. However, his effort drifted just a whisker wide.
The top Nigerian marksman looked sharp all night, constantly calling for the ball. Although he lacked adequate service and had to work hard for scraps, he managed a shot from the edge of the box in the 25th minute, which was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper.
Ultimately, the first half ended goalless, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.
Goals Galore in the Second Half: Victor Osimhen Steals the Show
Victor Osimhen for Galatasaray. (Credit: Galatasaray/X) Victor Osimhen was quiet in the first half, but he simply could not be stopped after the break. Galatasaray started the second half with greater purpose, looking much more coordinated in attack.
Osimhen finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a touch of pure brilliance. Sent clean through on goal by a precise pass from Lucas Torreira, he spotted goalkeeper Marcos Felipe rushing off his line and deftly chipped the ball home from close range to make it 1-0.
However, after taking the lead, Cimbom lost their composure as Çorum pressed for an equalizer. Just six minutes after Osimhen’s strike, Çorum drew level courtesy of a spectacular long-range effort from Alexandros Kyziridis. Two minutes later, Jesús Ramírez capitalized on a defensive error by Davinson Sánchez to make it 2-1 for the visitors.
Fortunately for Galatasaray, they gained a numerical advantage in the 70th minute when Kyziridis was red-carded for a reckless tackle on Yunus Akgün. Desperate for a goal, manager Okan Buruk introduced İlkay Gündoğan, Eren Elmalı, and Kaan Ayhan to inject fresh energy into the attack.
Galatasaray’s persistence finally paid off in the 90th minute, with Osimhen once again coming to the rescue. Getting on the end of a corner-kick cross from Gabriel Sara, the Nigerian striker powered a header into the bottom-left corner to level the score at 2-2.
Despite seven minutes of additional time, Cimbom failed to find a late winner, largely due to Çorum goalkeeper Marcos Felipe, who put on an impressive display with a string of crucial saves to secure a point for his side.
The thrilling contest at RAMS Park ultimately ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Big Blow For Galatasaray, What’s Next?
Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray. Copyright: Imago xSeskimphotox The draw against Corum is a terrible result for Galatasaray, especially with Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor looking to pounce. Galatasaray were terrible with defending, and they could have even conceded more than two goals.
Nonetheless, they will be looking to bounce back from this result as soon as possible. Up next for them is a fixture against another newly-promoted club Erzurumspor away from home, and they will be targeting a victory.
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