Victor Osimhen showcased nerves of steel as his 56th-minute penalty salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw for Galatasaray against a determined Hatayspor on Friday.
The Nigerian international’s clinical spot-kick denied the hosts a famous win in a game teeming with action, VAR drama, and heart-stopping moments.
Galatasaray started brightly, with Dries Mertens and Baris Alper Yilmaz pulling the strings in midfield.
Despite their dominance in possession—eventually reaching 64%—the visitors struggled to find the finishing touch.
Hatayspor made them pay in the 28th minute when Cemali Sertel pounced on a rebound to slot home a tidy opener.
Osimhen thought he’d levelled in the 26th minute, only for his effort to be chalked off for offside, setting the tone for a night of close calls.
The second half saw Galatasaray ramp up the pressure, with Lucas Torreira and Mertens pushing forward.
Their persistence seemed to pay off when Osimhen went down in the box following a clumsy challenge. Initially dismissed by referee Cihan Aydin, VAR intervention reversed the decision, awarding a penalty to the visitors.
Osimhen stepped up, waiting for Hatayspor goalkeeper Visar Bekaj to commit before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Hatayspor refused to relent, with Vincent Aboubakar causing headaches for Galatasaray’s defence before being substituted late on. Substitutions on both sides kept the tempo high, but neither team could find a decisive winner.
The closing minutes were chaotic, with Galatasaray forcing multiple corners and Hatayspor earning a few of their own. Both sides fought tooth and nail, but the final whistle at the 90+8 mark confirmed a well-earned draw for both teams.