UCL: Osimhen’s record-breaking goal earns Galatasaray victory over Liverpool

Nigerian international Victor Osimhen showed why his absence had been sorely felt, scoring the only goal as Galatasaray upset Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League clash on Monday night.

The Super Eagles striker missed the 5-1 defeat to Frankfurt due to injury. He returned to the starting lineup for the first time in over a month and scored the winner against Liverpool from the penalty spot.

A clumsy foul by Dominik Szoboszlai on Yunus Akgün in the 16th minute gifted the Turkish champions a penalty. Osimhen stepped up and dispatched it with aplomb. Both teams had chances afterward, but neither was able to alter the scoreline.

The strike was a special one for Osimhen as he set a new Nigerian record in Europe’s elite club competition, surpassing the tallies of Obafemi Martins, Nwankwo Kanu, and Austin Okocha.

The former Napoli forward is now the most prolific Nigerian striker in Champions League history, scoring against Liverpool to take his tally above his compatriots.

The 26-year-old has established himself as a consistent record-setter. He has now added another achievement to his career, becoming the top-scoring Nigerian in Champions League history and the first to reach double figures.

While the Nigerian was sidelined with an injury sustained on international duty, Galatasaray suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat in their UCL opener against Frankfurt.

He returned for a brief appearance against Antalyaspor last Friday and was immediately restored to the starting lineup for the crucial clash against Liverpool.

Osimhen justified the decision, giving Cim-Bom the lead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after Szoboszlai’s foul on Akgün.

The goal took Osimhen’s tally in the UCL to ten. He also became the first Nigerian international to reach double figures in the competition, cementing his status as the top-scoring player from West Africa in Champions League history.