March 11, (THEWILL) — Galatasaray claimed a narrow first-leg victory over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, with Mario Lemina’s first-half header earning a 1-0 result at Rams Park.
The decisive moment arrived from a well-executed corner in the opening period, with Lemina steering the ball home from close range.
Visiting goalkeeper Giorgi Marmardashvili produced excellent stops to deny both Noa Lang and Davinson Sanchez, keeping Liverpool’s deficit to a single goal.
Liverpool’s shortcomings in front of goal were plain from early on.
Florian Wirtz spurned two gilt-edged chances: the first after just 104 seconds when Lemina’s wayward pass set him free, only for him to fire wide; the second following a fluid combination between Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Alex Mac Allister, similarly squandered.
Dominik Szoboszlai drew a save from Ugurcan Cakir early in the second half before Mac Allister fired wide of the left post.
Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen then had what would have been a second goal ruled out, with Baris Yilmaz adjudged offside in the build-up, a decision that denied the Nigerian striker a finish that could have put the tie beyond doubt.
Liverpool were also frustrated by the officials when Ibrahima Konate was penalised for handball from a corner before the ball deflected in off Wilfried Singo.
Cakir’s late stop to prevent a Sanchez own goal brought the curtain down on a contest that leaves Galatasaray holding a 1-0 first-leg advantage ahead of the return fixture.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
