Osimhen breaks Turkish record as Galatasaray crush Trabzonspor to lift Turkish Cup

Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass on Wednesday night, scoring twice to break the record for most goals in a single Turkish football season by a foreign player and guide Galatasaray to a commanding 3-0 win over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Cup final.

Held at the Gaziantep Stadium, the Nigerian striker entered the match with 33 goals across all competitions — just one behind the long-standing record set by Mario Jardel in the 2000/01 season. Osimhen equaled the record in the 46th minute and made it his own by netting again in the 63rd, finishing the match with 35 goals in 38 appearances during his debut campaign in Turkey.

Early Dominance Sets the Tone

Galatasaray struck first in the 5th minute through Barış Alper Yılmaz, who capped off a slick team move with a confident finish after being picked out by Yunus Akgün. From that moment, Okan Buruk’s side looked in complete control.

Trabzonspor offered some resistance through Anthony Nwakaeme and Ozan Tufan, but their efforts never truly tested Fernando Muslera in goal.

Osimhen’s Record-Breaking Brace

Osimhen took center stage in the second half. Just a minute after the restart, he raced onto a Yılmaz through ball, muscled past his marker, and calmly slotted past Uğurcan Çakır to level Jardel’s 34-goal benchmark.

Related News: Victor Osimhen Hits 30th Goal of the Season as Galatasaray Storm into Turkish Cup Final with 5-1 Win Over Konyaspor

Seventeen minutes later, Osimhen made history. After a recycled corner, Yunus Akgün found him with a precise low pass into the box. The Nigerian striker controlled brilliantly before curling a sublime shot into the top corner — a goal fitting for the record books.

Legacy and Silverware

With his brace, Osimhen not only shattered a two-decade-old record but also helped Galatasaray secure their 19th Turkish Cup title — the most by any club in Turkish football. It marked their first cup win since 2019 and ended a six-year wait for major silverware.

The Nigerian has now leapfrogged Mario Jardel on Galatasaray’s all-time foreign scorers list and is closing in on legendary Romanian Gheorghe Hagi, who remains top with 72 goals.

Related News: Victor Osimhen Wins 2023 CAF Footballer Of The Year Award

With the Cup secured, Galatasaray will now aim for a historic domestic double. They host Kayserispor on Sunday in what could be a title-clinching match. A victory would hand them their 25th league title and their first double since the 1998/99 season.

Match Summary:

• Final Score: Galatasaray 3–0 Trabzonspor
• Goals:
  • Barış Alper Yılmaz (5’)
  • Victor Osimhen (46’, 63’)
• Venue: Gaziantep Stadium
• Man of the Match: Victor Osimhen

Key Milestone:

Osimhen becomes the highest-scoring foreign player in a single Turkish season with 35 goals, surpassing Mario Jardel’s 34-goal record set in 2000/01.

SportsLigue