Galatasaray Goes back to Istanbul With Advantage

Galatasaray moved into the driving seat of their UEFA Cup last 16 tie with Hamburg thanks to a draw at the HSV Arena this evening, despite playing most of the second half with 10 men.
Ayhan Akman gave Galatasaray the lead in the 32nd minute before Marcell Jansen equalised early in the second half.

Emre Asik was sent for an early bath in the 53rd minute, but Galatasaray held on for a draw which gives them a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Istanbul next week.

Piotr Trochowski was the early danger man for Hamburg as he threatened the Galatasaray goal with two shots from distance.

His first, in the third minute, cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches with his second in the 28th minute pushed wide by Gala goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis.

The visitors' biggest threat came from former Schalke player Lincoln and his 18th-minute free-kick landed straight into the arms of Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost.

Rost was beaten in the 32nd minute though when an unstoppable shot from Akman slipped in off the inside of his left hand post after the ball squirmed free from a challenge by Jerome Boateng on Lincoln just outside the penalty area.

Hamburg were level five minutes into the second half. Guerrero's left-wing cross was headed back across the face of goal by Mladen Petric to Jansen, who volleyed the ball past De Sanctis from close range.

Shabani Nonda had the chance score for Galatasaray minutes later when he was put through with Rost venturing a long way off his line.

However, he lifted his shot over the Hamburg goalkeeper and also over the crossbar.

In the 53rd minute, Gala were reduced to 10 men when Emre was sent off for a foul as the last man against Petric, who had been sent through on goal by Guerrero. Petric's consequent free-kick was easily saved by De Sanctis.

Hamburg failed to take advantage of the extra man though, with Collin Benjamin coming close with a volley which Mehmet Guven headed onto his own crossbar while Ivica Olic hit the outside of the post in the last minute.

Hamburg then survived a late scare when Umit Karan found the back of the net with his shot but the chance was disallowed for a foul.


Source:Wires