By Nurudeen Obalola
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen sealed a crucial victory for Galatasaray on Friday as the Turkish Super Lig champions defeated Samsunspor 2-0.
Galatasaray’s last Turkish Super Lig result was a 2-1 defeat at Besiktas on March 31, and they needed victory on Friday to fend off Fenerbahce in the title race.
Osimhen doubled Galatasaray’s lead after Yunus Akgun had opened the scoring, but it was not all plain sailing for the champions and league leaders.
Hosts Samsunspor had the ball in the net early on but the goal was disallowed, to the relief of Osimhen and his Galatasaray teammates.
Akgun struck first in the 14th minute and then set up Osimhen for a close-range finish two minutes into the second period.
Osimhen, who is on a season-long loan from Napoli, has become Galatasaray’s most important player this term, and has taken his impressive tally to 21 goals and four assists in 24 league appearances.
Overall, the 26-year-old Nigeria international has 29 goals and six assists in 33 matches for Galatasaray this season.
With Friday’s victory, Galatasaray stretched their gap over second-placed Fenerbahce to six points, with Jose Mourinho’s side having a game in hand.
Samsunspor are third, 23 points behind Galatasaray.
