Galatasaray extended their dominance in the Turkish league with a dramatic 3-2 win over local rivals Istanbul Basaksehir in the fourth round of the season. The defending champions secured the victory on the road in a match filled with twists and intense moments.
The visitors opened the scoring early when Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen netted in the 16th minute, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter. However, it was Istanbul Basaksehir who leveled the score in the 66th minute thanks to a penalty successfully converted by Uzbek striker Eldor Shomurodov.
Late Drama Decides a Tense Derby
Shortly after, Galatasaray reclaimed the lead through Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira in the 71st minute. The hosts fought back once again, but this time their equalizer came through an unfortunate own goal by Colombian defender Davinson Sánchez in the 76th minute, leveling the score at 2-2.
The match took a critical turn when Istanbul Basaksehir was reduced to ten men after Umut Bozok received a red card in the 79th minute. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Galatasaray pushed forward relentlessly and clinched the winning goal in stoppage time, scored by Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara.
This hard-fought victory allows Galatasaray to maintain their position at the top of the league standings as the season progresses.