Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, returned from Injury lay-off to snatch a vital UEFA Champions League 1-0 win for Galatasaray against Liverpool in Istanbul.
The defeat was a second successive defeat suffered by Liverpool.
Osimhen who has been on the sideline since he copped an ankle injury on duty for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Uyo, put away a penalty after 16 minutes and Galatasaray then resisted the pressure from mighty Liverpool to win their first game in the group phase of the Champions League.
He had at least two other chances to give his team a more convincing victory.
The Super Eagles striker also became the first Nigeria to score double figures in the Champions League after Obafemi Martins netted nine goals in this competition.
It was remarkable fight back by the Turkish champions after they were humbled 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening group tie.
Liverpool Head coach Arne Slot left talisman Mohamed Salah on the bench after the Reds lost at Crystal Palace, but the Premier League champions failed to fire amid a constant cacophony of noise at RAMS Park.
And, to add to Liverpool’s misery, goalkeeper Alisson went off injured in the second half after pulling off a superb save from Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen.
Slot introduced Salah and Alexander Isak just after the hour in an attempt to salvage something but it was to no avail.
Liverpool thought they would get the chance to rescue a point when referee Turpin pointed to the spot after Ibrahima Konate went down, but the decision was overturned following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
RESULTS
Atalanta 2-1 C’Brugge
Almaty 0-5 R’Madrid
Atletico 5-1 Frankfurt
Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham
Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Inter 3-0 S’Prague
Marseille 4-0 Ajax
Pafos 1-5 B’Munich
TODAY
Qarabag v Copenhagen
Royale v Newcastle
Arsenal v Olympiacos
Barcelona v PSG
Leverkusen v PSV
Dortmund v Ath Bilbao
Monaco v Man City
Napoli v Sporting
Villarreal v Juventus