Osimhen scores, refuses to celebrate against former club in UCL comeback

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored against his former club Lille on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League as Galatasaray came from behind to secure a 4-2 victory

The Nigerian striker sealed the win with a goal in the 61st minute, ending his wait for a Champions League goal since February and inflicting further misery on the French side.

Galatasaray made a flying start when Yunus Akgün capitalised on a defensive error to put the visitors ahead after just two minutes.

Lille responded in the seventh minute through 19-year-old Soriba Diaoune, who collected a pass from Alexsandro Ribeiro, rounded goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir and calmly finished into an empty net.

Diaoune struck again in the 39th minute, reacting quickest after a save to put Lille 2-1 ahead.

However, Galatasaray restored parity just before half-time when Aleksey Batrakov headed home an unmarked cross from Roland Sallai in the 44th minute.

The visitors took the lead again seven minutes after the restart when Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer turned Lucas Torreira’s header into his own net.

Osimhen then put the result beyond doubt in the 61st minute, finishing a swift counter-attack to make it 4-2 and complete Galatasaray’s comeback.

But the gracious striker refused to score the scintillating goal against his former club.

Instead of running in ecstasy, he offered apology to fans of the former club, which he represented from 2019–2020 before joining Serie A giants Napoli.