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Victor Osimhen delivered a commanding performance with two first-half goals as Galatasaray secured a 3-1 victory over Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in UEFA Champions League League Phase action at Rams Park on Wednesday evening.
The Nigerian striker's clinical finishing and Yunus Akgun's second-half strike proved decisive before a crowd of 48,232 at the Istanbul venue, as the Turkish giants maintained their Champions League campaign with a performance that showcased their attacking prowess and tactical control.
Osimhen wasted no time making his mark on the contest, opening the scoring just three minutes into the match. The striker converted from the center of the box, slotting a right-footed effort into the bottom right corner after receiving a pass from Mario Lemina to give Galatasaray an early advantage.
The home side continued to press forward in search of a second goal, with goalkeeper Nikita Haikin twice denying Osimhen in the seventh and eighth minutes. The Bodo/Glimt keeper made crucial saves from headers at close range, both assisted by crosses from Leroy Sane, to keep his team within reach.
English referee Michael Oliver briefly halted play in the 21st minute when Osimhen required treatment for an injury, but the striker was able to continue and would soon add to his tally.
Osimhen doubled Galatasaray's lead in the 33rd minute with another composed finish from the center of the box, this time using his left foot to find the center of the goal. The strike effectively put the match beyond doubt before halftime, with Bodo/Glimt struggling to create clear opportunities at the other end.
The Norwegian side's best chance of the opening period came in the 39th minute when Jens Petter Hauge's effort from the center of the box narrowly missed the target, assisted by Sondre Fet. Patrick Berg also tested his range from distance in the 35th minute, but his right-footed attempt sailed high and wide.
Galatasaray's attacking intent was evident throughout the first 45 minutes, with the hosts registering multiple corners and forcing Haikin into several saves. The Norwegian goalkeeper kept out a close-range attempt from Osimhen in the 29th minute to prevent a third goal before the break.
The match resumed with Galatasaray maintaining their aggressive approach. Haikin continued his busy evening with saves in the 54th and 66th minutes, denying efforts from Leroy Sane and Victor Osimhen respectively as the hosts sought to extend their advantage.
Yunus Akgun finally provided the cushion in the 60th minute, scoring from the center of the box with his left foot. The goal came after Haikin had made an initial save from Akgun's first attempt, but the Turkish midfielder followed up to convert the rebound and make it 3-0.
Galatasaray manager made tactical changes to manage the lead, introducing Gabriel Sara and Eren Elmali in the 65th minute for Mario Lemina and Baris Alper Yilmaz. Kaan Ayhan and Mauro Icardi replaced Yunus Akgun and Victor Osimhen in the 73rd minute, while Berkan Kutlu came on for Lucas Torreira in the 88th minute.
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Bodo/Glimt pulled one back in the 75th minute through substitute Andreas Helmersen, who had entered the match just minutes earlier. The forward headed home from very close range, meeting a cross from Fredrik Bjorkan to beat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir and reduce the deficit to 3-1.
The Norwegian side made all five of their substitutions in an attempt to salvage the match. Villads Nielsen, Andreas Helmersen and Daniel Bassi all came on in the 69th minute, replacing Haitam Aleesami, Kasper Hogh and Sondre Fet respectively. Isak Maatta replaced Fredrik Bjorkan in the 81st minute, and Anders Klynge entered for Hakon Evjen in the 88th minute.
Referee Oliver issued two yellow cards during the contest. Fredrik Bjorkan received a booking in the 51st minute for a foul on Leroy Sane, while Ismail Jakobs was cautioned in the 89th minute for a challenge on Daniel Bassi.
The match statistics reflected Galatasaray's dominance, with the hosts controlling 62.1 percent of possession compared to Bodo/Glimt's 37.9 percent. Galatasaray attempted 23 shots with 11 on target, while the visitors managed just eight attempts and two on goal. The Turkish side also won seven corners to Bodo/Glimt's four and committed 10 fouls to the visitors' seven.
Oliver was assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook, with Stuart Attwell serving as the video assistant referee for the match, which kicked off at 7:45 p.m. local time in Istanbul, Turkiye.
The victory extends Galatasaray's impressive recent form, with the club having won four of their last five matches across all competitions. Bodo/Glimt, meanwhile, have recorded three draws in their last five fixtures as they continue their European campaign.
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