In the 9th round of the Turkish Super League, one of the matches that drew attention from Uzbek football fans was between “Istanbul Basaksehir” and the reigning champion “Galatasaray.” The match was full of intense battles and ended with a 2–1 victory for the visitors.
The most active player on the field was Eldor Shomurodov. The 30-year-old Uzbek striker scored twice against “Galatasaray,” but his first goal was disallowed by VAR. His second strike became the only goal for his team. Meanwhile, “Galatasaray” star Leroy Sane netted a brace to secure an important victory for his side.
Nuri Sahin, head coach of “Istanbul Basaksehir”:
“In the first half, our plan didn’t work at all. In matches like this, you must not be afraid — you can’t win only with long balls. ‘Galatasaray’ is a strong team, but they leave space in defense — we used that in the second half. My players reacted well, but in such games, you have to stay focused from the first to the last minute.”
Okan Buruk, head coach of “Galatasaray”:
“It was not easy for either team to play on a slippery pitch. We scored before the break, which gave us an advantage. In the second half, the opponent became more active, but we could have scored at least three goals. ‘Basaksehir’ is a strong side, and Nuri Sahin is a good coach. Winning against such an opponent makes the three points even more valuable.”
Leroy Sane, “Galatasaray” forward:
“We played really well, especially in the first half. There were some problems in the second half, but overall, it was a solid performance. During the international break, we prepared well for this match.”
Eldor Shomurodov, “Istanbul Basaksehir” forward:
“There’s nothing much to say — we lost. In the first half, we couldn’t control the ball, but in the second, we were more active. We at least deserved a draw, but the result didn’t go our way.”
After this defeat, “Basaksehir” remained in 15th place with 6 points. The team will face “Antalyaspor” away on October 26.
“Galatasaray” strengthened its lead with 25 points and continues its run as one of the main contenders for the title.
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