Victor Osimhen, Nigeria international and Galatasaray striker, will miss the club’s first playoff match in the UEFA Europa League after picking up his third yellow card in the competition during Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam.
Osimhen was cautioned in the 38th minute following a collision with Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer during a corner kick.
Earlier yellow cards were earned in games against Dinamo Kyiv and AZ Alkmaar.
The UEFA Europa League playoff draw scheduled for Friday, Galatasaray could face Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar in the next round.
Osimhen’s Missed Chances Haunt Galatasaray
While Osimhen added a stoppage-time goal, his night was frustrating in front of goal. Despite his late strike, the Super Eagles forward missed several clear opportunities earlier in the game.
Osimhen showing his frustrations. Photo by imago
In the 18th minute, Osimhen narrowly missed the target with a header from a cross, and just before halftime, he again failed to convert, sending his header wide.
A third chance came in the 57th minute, but Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer saved his effort.
Osimhen finally found the net in the dying moments, but it was too late to alter the result.
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The defeat meant Galatasaray missed out on an automatic spot in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals, leaving manager Okan Buruk visibly frustrated after the match.
Buruk: “We Missed Clear Chances
In a post-match interview with Galatasaray.org, Buruk expressed frustration with his team’s missed chances and their habit of conceding preventable goals.
“We missed a number of clear chances and could’ve won this match easily,” he said. “There was even a chance to make it 2-2 in a minute. Both Batshuayi and Osimhen had their opportunities.”
“When you miss so many chances and also concede soft goals, you’re bound to lose,” he continued. “We had our shortcomings, but my players gave their best. We’ve created the most chances in the Europa League and scored plenty of goals, but we’ve also conceded too many.”
“The reason we didn’t advance to the top eight is the simple goals we conceded,” Buruk explained. “We didn’t allow many chances, but the goals we let in were avoidable. That’s the story of today’s game.”
“This was our first loss, and of course, it hurts,” Buruk added.
Osimhen’s Scoring Streak Continues
Despite the defeat, Osimhen’s goal in the final moments of the game extended his impressive UEFA Europa League form to four consecutive matches.
The Napoli loanee has now scored 17 goals across all competitions this season, including five in just six UEFA Europa League appearances.
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His absence for Galatasaray’s first playoff match will be a significant setback for the team, who will now face a challenging fixture without their top scorer.
