Osimhen nets 20th goal, yet Galatasaray exit UEFA Europa League

Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray have been eliminated from the Europa League after a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar at the RAMS Park on Thursday, resulting in a 6-3 aggregate defeat.

AZ Alkmaar’s 4-1 win in the first leg meant Galatasaray needed a flawless performance in front of their home crowd to have any chance of advancing. Despite the energetic support, AZ Alkmaar created the first significant opportunity, with Sven Mijnans forcing Günay Güvenç to make a save before the Dutch side’s captain was substituted with an injury 12 minutes into the game.

Galatasaray dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances, while AZ Alkmaar remained solid and countered with menace. The away side’s resilience paid off just before halftime as Seiya Maikuma scored with a fortunate touch, giving his team a 1-0 lead and a commanding 5-1 aggregate advantage.

Galatasaray made two halftime substitutions in an attempt to spark a miraculous comeback. However, their task became even more daunting when Denso Kasius scored with a speculative 25-yard shot 10 minutes into the second half.

The Turkish side responded swiftly, with Victor Osimhen scoring his 20th goal of the season with a powerful volley before Rolland Sallai equalized in the 70th minute, but Galatasaray’s efforts were ultimately insufficient to overcome the significant deficit.

The 2-2 draw sealed AZ Alkmaar’s qualification for the Europa League round of 16, with a 6-3 aggregate victory.