Osimhen’s Brace Propels Galatasaray Into Turkish Cup Semifinals with Hard-Fought Win Over Fenerbahçe Victor Osimhen delivered a match-winning performance on Wednesday night, scoring both goals as Galatasaray edged past their arch-rivals Fenerbahçe in a thrilling 2-1 victory in the Turkish Cup quarterfinals. The highly anticipated clash at Istanbul’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium lived up to expectations, with both teams displaying intensity and quality in a fiercely contested encounter. Galatasaray’s Early Dominance The match began at a high tempo, with both sides eager to seize control. Galatasaray wasted no time in making their intentions clear, and it took just 10 minutes for them to find the breakthrough. Turkey international Barış Yılmaz played a precise pass to Osimhen, who timed his run perfectly before clinically finishing past the Fenerbahçe goalkeeper, sending the away fans into celebration. Building on their early advantage, Galatasaray continued to press forward, exploiting gaps in Fenerbahçe’s defense. Their persistence paid off in the 27th minute when they were awarded a penalty after a defensive error in the box. Osimhen stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to double his side’s lead. His composed finish reaffirmed his reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in European football. Fenerbahçe’s Response and Second-Half Battle Despite trailing by two goals, Fenerbahçe refused to back down. They found a lifeline just before halftime when Polish midfielder Sebastian Szymański capitalized on a rare defensive lapse from Galatasaray, slotting home a well-placed shot to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Buoyed by the goal, Fenerbahçe came out strongly in the second half, pushing hard for an equalizer. Their attacking trio tested Galatasaray’s backline with a series of dangerous moves, but the visitors’ defense, marshaled by their experienced center-backs, remained resolute. Galatasaray, meanwhile, adopted a more defensive approach in the latter stages of the match, relying on counterattacks to exploit Fenerbahçe’s aggressive forward play. Osimhen, always a threat in transition, continued to trouble the home side’s defense with his pace and movement. Late Drama and Osimhen’s Substitution As the match neared its conclusion, tensions flared, with players from both sides engaging in physical battles. In the 85th minute, Osimhen was shown a yellow card for a foul, his aggressive pressing momentarily getting the better of him. Moments later, manager Okan Buruk decided to substitute the Nigerian forward, bringing on Spanish striker Álvaro Morata to see out the game. Fenerbahçe threw everything forward in the dying minutes, but Galatasaray’s disciplined defense stood firm, denying their rivals any clear-cut chances. After five minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the final whistle, confirming Galatasaray’s victory and their place in the Turkish Cup semifinals. Osimhen’s Stellar Season and Galatasaray’s Road Ahead Osimhen’s performance in this crucial fixture further cemented his status as one of the most influential players in Turkish football. The 26-year-old has now amassed an impressive 27 goals and five assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this season, playing a key role in Galatasaray’s domestic and European campaigns. Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian Bright Osayi-Samuel was an unused substitute for Fenerbahçe, watching from the sidelines as his team fell short in their comeback attempt. With this victory, Galatasaray moves a step closer to Turkish Cup glory, keeping alive their hopes of securing a domestic double. As they prepare for the semifinals, their confidence will be bolstered by the outstanding form of Osimhen, whose goal-scoring instincts continue to drive the team forward.