In a major upset during Wednesday’s Turkish Cup quarter-final, Galatasaray suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Genclerbirligi, despite the highly anticipated return of star forward Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian international made his first appearance in over four weeks, having been sidelined by an arm injury sustained during a Champions League encounter with Liverpool. However, his presence on the pitch was unable to reverse the fortunes of the “Yellow and Reds” on a night defined by missed opportunities.
Entering the fixture as overwhelming favorites—particularly after securing a league victory against the same opponents just days prior—Galatasaray controlled the tempo and dominated possession for much of the evening. Despite their territorial advantage, the hosts were unable to breach a resilient Genclerbirligi defense. The visitors eventually exploited this lack of clinical finishing, breaking the deadlock in the 51st minute when Firatcan Uzum found the back of the net to stun the home crowd.
Seeking a tactical spark to salvage their cup campaign, manager Okan Buruk introduced Osimhen from the bench in the 78th minute. The Super Eagles striker, who started the match among the substitutes to manage his reintegration after a month-long layoff, was tasked with spearheading a late comeback.
The comeback attempt was short-lived, however, as the underdog visitors doubled their advantage just five minutes after Osimhen’s entry. Adama Traore capitalized on a defensive opening to seal the victory for Genclerbirligi and confirm Galatasaray’s exit from the tournament. For the Istanbul giants, the result represents a significant blow to their domestic silverware ambitions, while for Osimhen, it marks a frustrating conclusion to his road back to competitive action.
