Sarr transforms Galatasaray

FC Lokomotiv Moskva 0-2 Galatasaray SK
Teenaged substitute Mohammed Sarr scored with his first touch to help Galatasaray SK to a precious 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over FC Lokomotiv Moskva in Moscow.

Pulsating fixture
The 18-year-old came off the bench with 20 minutes of a pulsating Group H fixture remaining and two minutes later leapt to meet fellow replacement Fabio Pinto's left-wing cross with a well-placed header to put his side into a deserved lead.

Red-hot Arif
Crestfallen Lokomotiv, who had created several good chances themselves by playing fast-flowing, attractive football, pushed forward in search of an equaliser and promptly found themselves two goals down. Vadim Evseev's lazy header handed Galatasaray possession on the Lokomotiv right and after Gennadi Nizhegorodov failed to cut out Ergün Penbe's pass, man of the moment Arif Erdem lashed the ball past Sergey Ovchinnikov to seal three important points for the Turkish outfit.

Tactical switch
Arif's alert 81st-minute finish made it nine goals in six games for the Galatasaray and Turkey striker, who immediately made way for Emre Asik as the visitors switched to a defensive strategy to protect their lead.

Early chance
It was Arif who had been presented with the first chance of the game on five minutes when he latched on to a bouncing ball and chipped Ovchinnikov, but watched his effort hit the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Marvellous Maminov
The opening ten minutes were electric and only a stunning save from Faryd Mondragon, the 31-year-old Galatasaray goalkeeper, denied Evseev from 18 metres out. But after that, the visitors controlled the first half against a relatively static Lokomotiv side, who were kept in the game by midfield player Vladimir Maminov's selfless industry.

Sparked to life
However, Lokomotiv sparked into life on the half-hour mark when Maksim Buznikin found space inside the area to shoot and when Mondragon saved with his feet, Evseev drove the rebound wide.

Visitors unlucky
But Galatasaray finshed the first period on top. Three minutes before the break, Ovchinnikov blocked Felipe's strike from distance - but the keeper was beaten a minute later. Ergün's powerful effort sailed past his despairing dive but struck the inside of the post before defying convention by bouncing across the face of goal and spinning out of play for a goal kick beyond the opposite upright, leaving Ergün stunned.

Renewed vigour
Lokomotiv emerged from the half-time interval with renewed vigour and had three great chances to take the lead midway through the half. First Jacob Lekcetho turned and fired a shot straight at Mondragon from 16 metres, then Dmitry Loskov's 30-metre free-kick brought a flamboyant punched clearance from the Galatasaray goalkeeper and finally Julio Cesar held off João Batista as he charged towards goal, but his shot on the run was stopped with both hands by the diving keeper.

Sarr decisive
That spell of Lokomotiv pressure prompted Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim to make that vital substitution and once Sarr scored, it was apparent that Lokomotiv's 13-match unbeaten run was set to end.