GALATASARAY 2-2 FC COPENHAGEN – LATE DRAMA AS TURKISH CHAMPIONS STUN VISITORS TO EARN POINT ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURN
The last 10 minutes were a heart-stopping match, because Galatasaray tied Copenhagen 2-2 in the most epic way. In just 5 minutes they got into the game and rescued a point at home.
With goals from Tete in the 88th and Boey in the 86th, the Turks showed their strength of playing at home.
The hosts had another chance to open the scoring after 17 minutes when Kerem Aturkoglu found space inside the penalty area, but he got his shot all wrong and blazed it wide.
Copenhagen took a shock lead after 35 minutes thanks to a moment of sheer magic from Mohamed Elyounoussi. Lukas Lerager knocked the ball in the box onto Elyounoussi, who controlled it with his chest before lashing home on the volley.
Galatasaray thrust men forward at every available opportunity and in the 58th minute Copenhagen were able to take advantage and scored a second. Birger Meling found himself in acres of space behind the Galatasaray backline before hooking the ball across to Diogo Goncalves who thumped his effort home first time past Fernando Muslera.
Copenhagen were dealt a blow 15 minutes from time when Elias Jelert was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.
Galatasaray finally found a goal in the 86th minute thanks to a wonderful strike from Sacha Boey. Tete’s pass found the Frenchman who took a touch before thumping his effort past Grabara.
Just one minute after pulling one back, Galatasaray scored another. This time Tete went from provider to scorer, firing a rocket from distance into the bottom corner.
It’s not a dream start to the UEFA Champions League campaign for Galatasaray but after staring down the barrel of a 2-0 defeat, this comeback will, momentarily, feel very much like a win.
TALKING POINT – A DRAMATIC END TO SPARE GALATASARAY BLUSHES
An incredible ending to the match earned Galatasaray a point but when the dust settles they will see this as two vital points dropped. Galatasaray’s dream going into the campaign will have been to shock either Manchester United or Bayern Munich and finish in the top two but a more realistic aim will be to fix their sights on third place and earn a drop into the Europa League. Tonight’s match was, on paper, Galatasaray’s easiest match of the group stage and with just minutes to go they were staring down the barrel of a 2-0 defeat.
The importance of getting three points tonight hits home when you consider Galatasaray’s next two matches in the competition are Manchester United at Old Trafford and Bayern Munich at home. The circumstances of tonight’s draw will mean it may feel like a win for the Galatasaray players for the time being but that will fade and they will look back at this night as an opportunity missed.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – TETE (GALATASARAY)
Despite only playing 31 minutes, it’s hard to make a case for a player having as big an impact as Tete did in this match. On for Galatasaray with his side 2-0 down, he brought energy, pace and enthusiasm onto the pitch. He provided the assist in the 86th minute for Sacha Boey’s stunning goal and just two minutes later Tete was on hand to score the goal of the night, a sensational finish from distance to snatch a point for his team.
PLAYER RATINGS
Galatasaray: Muslera 6, Boey 8, Nelsson 6, Bardakci 6, Angelino 6, Torreira 7, Demirbay 6, Ziyech 5, Mertens 7, Akturkoglu 6, Icardi 6: Oliveira 6, Tete 8, Zaha 7, Yilmas 6, Ndombele 6
Copenhagen: Grabara 6, Meling 7, Diks 6, Vavro 6, Jelert 5, Goncalves 7, Jensen 6, Lerager 7, Achouri 6, Larsson 6, Elyounoussi 7 Subs: Claesson 6, Oskarsson N/A, Ankersen 6, Lund 6, Hojlund N/A
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