By Nurudeen Obalola
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was the hero for Galatasaray on Thursday night, scoring twice in their 3-2 UEFA Europa League home victory over Tottenham Hotspur, as his compatriot Cyriel Dessers netted for Rangers in their 1-1 draw at Olympiacos.
Osimhen struck twice within eight minutes to take the contest away from Spurs, who had pulled it back to 1-1 after Galatasaray opened the scoring.
Yunus Akgun gave Galatasaray an early lead in the sixth minute but Spus responded quickly, William Lankshear scoring his first goal for the club 12 minutes later.
Osimhen then took over, netting in the 31st and 39th minutes, both times assisted by his former Napoli teammate Dries Mertens.
The brace took Osimhen’s tally in his loan spell at Galatasaray to six goals and four assists in eight matches, as he was taken off with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Tottenham cut the deficit in the 69th minute through England striker with Nigerian heritage Dominic Solanke, despite going down to 10 men nine minutes earlier with the dismissal of Lankshear.
Galatasaray held on to secure victory, which took them to third in the 36-team table, while Tottenham slipped to seventh.
In Greece, Dessers earned Rangers a point with his 64th minute strike, eight minutes after Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi had given the hosts the lead.
The goal was Dessers’ first in the Europa League this season, but he has scored nine goals in 19 games in all competitions for the Scottish side.
