Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, played a key role as Turkish champions Galatasaray defeated Liverpool 1–0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash in Istanbul.
The striker was heavily involved in the encounter and provided the assist for the only goal of the match, though he also had a strike ruled out for offside.
The victory meant that Liverpool manager Arne Slot saw his 100th match in charge end in defeat, as Galatasaray secured a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg at Anfield next week.
In front of a hostile home crowd in Istanbul, Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability from set pieces resurfaced as Mario Lemina headed home the winner in the seventh minute — the 10th goal Slot’s side have conceded from corners this season.
The former Southampton, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder rose highest to nod past Giorgi
Mamardashvili, who was making a rare start in the absence of injured first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The goal came after Osimhen flicked on a set piece delivered by Gabriel Sara.
It was Lemina’s first goal of the season. Coincidentally, five years ago he scored the winner for Fulham against Liverpool in a Premier League clash at Anfield.
Osimhen later thought he had doubled Galatasaray’s lead after capitalising on a defensive error by Ibrahima Konaté, but his close-range finish was disallowed after Barış Alper Yılmaz was judged to be offside in the build-up despite not touching the ball.
Liverpool believed they had equalised in the 70th minute when the ball was bundled over the line from a corner delivered by Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, the goal was ruled out after a lengthy review by the Video Assistant Referee, which determined that the ball struck Konaté’s arm twice — first from the corner delivery and again after it ricocheted off the heel of Virgil van Dijk.
The defeat leaves Liverpool with work to do ahead of the return leg at Anfield on March 18.
