Galatasaray fought hard to claim a 2-1 victory over Fethiyespor in the Turkish Cup, overcoming a stubborn lower-league challenge to keep their group campaign on track.
The visitors dominated possession in the opening half but found clear chances hard to come by. Without their star striker Victor Osimhen - away with Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations and preparing for a heavyweight semi-final clash against Morocco tomorrow - Galatasaray lacked a cutting edge early on, allowing Fethiyespor to grow in confidence.
After a goalless first period, the game opened up following the restart. Galatasaray eventually made their pressure count in the 73rd minute when Abdulkerim Bardakci rose highest to head home from a set-piece, breaking the resistance of the hosts. The goal shifted the momentum, and seven minutes later Baris Alper Yilmaz doubled the advantage with a composed finish to put daylight between the sides.
