Super-sub Osimhen powers Gala comeback on injury return

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Super-sub Osimhen powers Gala comeback on injury return Sports October 10, 2026 12:04 am File: Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen came off the bench on his return from injury and set up a late goal as 10-man Galatasaray beat Kasımpaşa 3-1 in the Turkish Süper Lig at RAMS Park on Friday.

The Super Eagles striker replaced Deniz Gül in the 77th minute, his first appearance since he was hurt on September 4.

The match was level at 1-1 when he came on, and Galatasaray scored twice in the closing stages to win.

Galatasaray had led in the 45th minute through defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı, who headed in from Aleksey Batrakov’s free-kick. Their task became harder in the 65th minute when midfielder Lucas Torreira was sent off after a VAR review upgraded his yellow card to a red for denying a clear goalscoring chance.

Kasımpaşa made the extra man count three minutes later, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalising after Galatasaray failed to clear a corner.

Barış Alper Yılmaz restored Galatasaray’s lead in the 90th minute, before Osimhen’s pass in the build-up allowed Mario Lemina to dribble past a defender and finish for the third goal in the 90+6 minute.

The result lifts Galatasaray to the top of the table on 16 points from seven games, three points clear of Amed SK, who have 13 points and a game in hand. Kasımpaşa suffered their first league defeat of the season and stay on 10 points.

Osimhen was injured in the 33rd minute of Galatasaray’s 3-2 league win over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4, after scoring the opening goal. Tests showed a strain in the right adductor muscle group.

He missed the Champions League opener against Sporting CP and league games against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor, and withdrew from Eric Chelle’s Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

The 27-year-old had scored six goals and provided two assists in his first four league appearances before the injury. His return is timely for Galatasaray, who host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13.

Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories

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