Galatasaray battle back to earn Europa League spot
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Article summary
Galatasaray 1-1 Astana
A moment of magic from Selçuk İnan helped the home side back into the game just as it was slipping away, a point keeping them in third spot.
Article top media content
Article body
- Galatasaray book place in Monday's UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw
- Astana end first group campaign with four points but no win
- Patrick Twumasi scores Astana's first away goal of group stage
- Galatasaray skipper Selçuk İnan quickly levels
- Astana's next match will be in March when they begin Kazakh title defence
A moment of magic from Galatasaray skipper Selçuk İnan helped fashion a crucial equaliser as Astana once again came up just short.
A lively encounter brought chances at both ends, with Patrick Twumasi and Burak Yılmaz hitting the frame of the goal before the Astana striker broke the deadlock just after the hour. Celebrations were short-lived, though, as Selçuk rifled in at the other end to ultimately seal third in UEFA Champions League Group C.
For Astana it was a familiar story: so near yet so far. The visitors had begun brightly, with the lively Twumasi at the heart of the action. The Ghanaian forward's pace and power caused problems throughout and having rattled the upright he later sent a dangerous cross across the box that somehow evaded everyone.
Galatasaray saved their best opportunities of the first half until last. Two minutes before half-time, on the counterattack, Yasin Öztekin's effort from outside the box was saved by Nenad Erić. Moments later Yasin was the provider, sending Burak through one on one with the keeper. The Turkey man directed his attempt against the post.
Twumasi showed greater poise on 62 minutes when he met Dmitri Shomko's cross from the left first time, yet Selçuk calmed home nerves almost instantly. First his clever spin helped unlock the Astana defence; then, when Burak was denied, the Galatasaray captain was on hand to fire in.
Astana could find no way back into the ascendancy, but exit the tournament with heads held high after a campaign that brought only two defeats; Galatasaray's adventure continues with the UEFA Europa League.
Reaction
Mustafa Denizli, Galatasaray coach
This was the hardest 90 minutes of my career. In so many years in football, it was the most difficult night in terms of the conditions and atmosphere. I have never had a game played under such pressure.
If the equaliser had taken any longer in coming, the pressure would have mounted. We needed to take the pressure off ourselves. Our display was bad. We had chances – I don't know if it was the panic but we couldn't convert them.
Stanimir Stoilov, Astana coach
Out of the six games we have played in the group, we lost only two. It has been a good experience for us. My team did their best but couldn't keep it going until the end. Frankly speaking, the result is disappointing.