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Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Galatasaray at RAMS Park on Tuesday, capitalizing on a second-half breakthrough while the Turkish giants struggled to convert their dominance into goals.
Promise David scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute, finishing from the center of the box after a well-timed assist from Adem Zorgane. The strike proved to be the only goal of the match despite Galatasaray's controlling 66.5% of possession throughout the contest.
Galatasaray's frustration mounted as the match progressed, culminating in a red card for defender Arda Unyay in the 89th minute. Unyay, who had already been booked in the 80th minute for a bad foul, received his second yellow card for another foul on Sofiane Boufal, forcing his team to play the final minutes with 10 men.
Despite their territorial advantage, the home side managed just three shots on target from 13 attempts. Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen made crucial saves for Union Saint-Gilloise, including denying efforts from Baris Alper Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara.
Galatasaray's attacking threats came through their star-studded lineup featuring former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, ex-Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane, and striker Mauro Icardi. However, the team's finishing let them down repeatedly, with Gabriel Sara hitting the post in the 27th minute in one of their closest chances.
The match was marked by physical play and frequent stoppages, with Union Saint-Gilloise committing 17 fouls compared to Galatasaray's nine. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez issued five yellow cards, including bookings for Gundogan, Davinson Sanchez, and Lucas Torreira for the home side.
Galatasaray also dealt with injury concerns, as Ismail Jakobs was forced off in the 53rd minute and replaced by Unyay, who would later see red. The visitors made several tactical substitutions, including bringing on Kevin Rodriguez and Sofiane Boufal to help protect their slender lead.
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The result deals a blow to Galatasaray's hopes in the UEFA Champions League league phase, where teams compete for advancement to the knockout rounds. Union Saint-Gilloise, making their mark in Europe's elite club competition, demonstrated defensive resilience and clinical finishing to claim all three points.
The victory continues Union Saint-Gilloise's competitive showing in the tournament, with the Belgian club managing four shots on target despite having significantly less possession than their opponents. Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir made three saves but was unable to prevent David's decisive strike.
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