CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING: STUNNING DRIES MERTENS GOAL SEALS GALATASARAY A NERVY WIN, GENK KNOCKED OUT
Galatasaray advanced to the third knockout stage of the Champions League after a 1–0 (3-2 aggregate) win over Lithuanian club Zalgiris Vilnius. Dries Mertens scored an eye-catching volley from the corner to ensure the Turkish Super Lig champions could still make it through to the Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, Maccabi Haifa made it through but Genk of Belgium was eliminated.
Dries Mertens’ spectacular volley sent Galatasaray into the third qualifying round with a tight 1-0 win over Zalgiris Vilnius.
The return leg in Istanbul was well prepared after a 2-2 draw in Lithuania, and Galatasaray looked worried about the expected support from the home side inside Nef Stadyumu.
But Mertens scored the decisive goal in the 31st minute. Kerem Akturkoglu took a corner from the edge of the penalty area, and the ball went wide of the post by the former Napoli striker.