Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool: Lemina header decides frantic first leg after VAR rules out Reds’ equalizer | OneFootball

Liverpool’s hopes of a point in Instanbul were dashed once again by VAR as Mario Lemina’s header earned Galatasaray a 1-0 win and vital advantage in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

The former Wolves midfielder emphatically headed his side in front from a corner, after the Reds had made a bright start but were otherwise fragmented and failed to stamp their authority on the game.

Victor Oshimhen’s second half tap in was ruled out to save Ibrahima Konaté’s blushes after an awful back pass and subsequent clearance, not long before the centre-back’s equalizer was disallowed after the final touch came off his arm.

As it happened

The hosts were shaky in possession early on and could’ve paid the price had Florian Wirtz not fired wide of goal after pouncing on a loose pass out of defense, before Dominik Szoboszlai saw his snapshot blocked superbly by Abdülkerim Bardakcı moments later.

But Galatasaray immediately turned the script on its head after good work down the left wing by Noah Lang to win the corner, headed home emphatically by Lemina to send the orange and red crowd into raptures.

It was as though their supporters were doing half the defensive work for them, as deafening whistles echoed around the stadium with every Liverpool touch of the ball, as the Turkish side were threatening on the break.

Lang was causing problems again on the left and his looping cross was tipped just wide by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was very uncertain as to whether it would end up on target.

Wirtz came close for a second time as Liverpool carved through Galatasaray with an intricate move involving Mohamed Salah, on his record 81st Champions League appearance in a red shirt, before Mac Allister teed up the German.

Uğurcan Çakır was down to his right smartly to bat the shot away.

Galatasaray might’ve felt like they should have been two up 20 minutes in, as an unmarked Davidson Sanchez rose to head Gabriel Sara’s delightful cross towards goal, but Mamardashvili got a glove on it to turn the ball aside with a sprawling save.

Liverpool were fast out of the blocks again as the second half got underway, with Hugo Ekitike surging through the middle and Uğurcan Çakır producing a fine save to keep out Szoboszlai.

Mac Allister then went within inches of the equalizer after a long throw from Joe Gomez, his shot into the turf bouncing just wide.

Oshimen has the ball in the net after another disaster at the back for Liverpool, as Konaté gave possession away with a short back pass towards Mamardashvili and made a mess of clearing the pass across goal towards the striker.

But Baris Yilmaz was ruled to have impacted play from an offside position, and VAR ruled out their second.

Keeping with the chaotic tempo, Konaté thought he had gone from zero to hero after bundling in Szoboszlai’s corner from the left with 20 minutes to go, but VAR spotted it hitting the Frenchman’s hand and the equalizer was disallowed.

The officials concluded that the final touch that sent it over the line was made with his arm, meaning it must have been ruled out under the laws of the game.

Oshimhen were nigh irrepresable as the game entered the final 10 minutes, running the ball across the entire Liverpool back line and seeing his powerful low drive deflected wide, and Sara lashed into the side netting with minutes remaining.

Substitute Cody Gakpo went close to a superb strike to level the game in second-half stoppage time, firing just wide of the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area

Liverpool analysis: hard done by or what they deserved?

Liverpool fans will likely find it difficult not to feel hard done by, as their hopes of an equalizer involving Ibrahima Konaté at Rams Park were quashed once again – unlike the league phase defeat, though, it could mean tenfold this time.

It was the French centre back who tumbled to the ground in stoppage time a few months ago, and it was his equalizer tonight that was ruled out after VAR spotted the ball coming off his arm. Accidental or not, it could not stand.

Do the players have the same right, to feel as though they merited more than this? They had 15 shots, as many as their Turkish opponents, more possession, and created plenty of chances. But they were sloppy.

Arne Slot’s men simply couldn’t exact control over proceedings, as they so often look to do. Galatasaray found it far too easy to get in behind in the wide areas, with Noah Lang and Victor Oshimhen having near free reign to as they pleased on the ball.

Galatasaray – Liverpool Live Score

Their inability to dictate the game meant it was chaotic, frantic, and simply too much for them to carve out enough meaningful chances to try and haul themselves level.

And they won’t want to look back on Galatasaray’s opener from a corner, which was far too simple.

It was a frustrating night for Liverpool, but one they must quickly forget if they are to turn the tables at Anfield.