Postecoglou’s Spurs go down in Istanbul cliffhanger
Victor Osimhen scored twice in eight minutes to help Galatasaray beat Tottenham 3-2 in the Europa League in front of a raucous crowd at Rams Park.
Osimhen scored his first goal in Europe for Galatasaray after his transfer from Napoli with a precise low shot inside the right post to give the hosts a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.
He then added his second eight minutes later by heading home a curled cross from the right by Dries Mertens.
Yunus Akgün put Galatasary ahead in the sixth minute when Spurs failed to properly clear a free kick by Mertens and the midfielder volleyed home from outside the area past goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Tottenham equalised in the 19th minute through 19-year-old striker Will Lankshear, who made only his second senior appearance for the London club and netted from close range after a cross from Brennan Johnson.
However, Lankshear was later sent off for a second yellow card on the hour mark.
Substitute Dominic Solanke pulled a goal back for Tottenham with a backheel finish in the 69th to set up a thrilling finish. but they couldn’t find an equaliser.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou made seven changes from Sunday’s win over Aston Villa with three teenagers in Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Lankshear included in the starting line-up
It was Tottenham’s first loss in the competition after three wins. Galatasaray remain unbeaten with three wins and a draw.
Every game on Thursday was preceded by a moment of silence to honour the victims of the devastating floods in Spain.
Eintracht Frankfurt beat Slavia Prague 1-0 thanks to Omar Marmoush’s second-half goal, while Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at Union Saint-Gilloise, another disappointing result after a 3-2 loss to Hellas Verona in Serie A over the weekend.
Rangers held last year’s Conference League champions Olympiacos to a 1-1 draw in Greece.
Athletic Bilbao beat Ludogorets 2-1 to stay unbeaten with three wins and a draw, while Qarabag upset Bodø/Glimt 3-1 in Norway to earn their first points.
Nice drew 2-2 with Twente with both teams finishing the game with 10 men.
Manchester United are hosting PAOK, still seeking their first win in the competition.
In the Conference League, Legia Warsaw and Rapid Vienna both kept a perfect record in the third-tier competition by making it three wins from three games.
Warsaw routed Dinamo Minsk 4-0 and Vienna eased past Petrocub 3-0 in Moldova.
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