Victor Osimhen maintained his impressive scoring form for Galatasaray with a goal in a convincing 3 0 victory over Çaykur Rizespor at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu, taking his tally to 12 league goals in 15 appearances this Turkish Super Lig season.
Galatasaray arrived in Rize on Sunday aiming to strengthen their grip on top spot, holding a three point advantage over their closest challengers, while Rizespor were looking to halt a slump that had left them in 12th place. The visitors asserted control early and came close in the 10th minute when Gabriel Sara unleashed a powerful long range effort that crashed off the woodwork.
The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute as Barış Alper Yılmaz rose highest to head home from a precise Noa Lang cross, giving Galatasaray a deserved lead. The visitors continued to apply pressure after the break and were again denied by the woodwork in the 47th minute when Lang struck the post from inside the box.
Victor Osimhen nearly doubled his tally in the 60th minute after being played clean through by Yunus Akgün, but his attempted chip narrowly missed the target. Two minutes later, Galatasaray capitalised on sustained pressure as they won the ball high up the pitch and Akgün nodded in from close range, marking his first headed goal for the club.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 73rd minute when Osimhen showed composure and sharpness to round the goalkeeper and finish from a tight angle for his 12th league goal of the campaign. Galatasaray continued to threaten late on and were again denied in the 82nd minute when Mauro Icardi’s effort struck the post.
Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes, registering four shots with one on target, missing one big chance, completing 17 of 21 passes, recording 42 touches and receiving a yellow card in the 47th minute. For Rizespor, Nigerian winger Ibrahim Olawoyin featured for 64 minutes before being replaced by Adedire Mebude. He completed 19 of 24 passes, attempted one shot, was caught offside once and was shown a yellow card in the second minute.
The win lifts Galatasaray to 52 points, extending their lead at the top of the table ahead of Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor, while Rizespor remain 12th on 20 points following the defeat.
