Postecoglou points finger as Tottenham humbled in Galatasaray loss
Tottenham Hotspur narrowly escaped complete embarrassment in their recent Europa League match, where defensive errors and missed chances from their opponents kept the scoreline closer than it might have been.
Despite a disjointed performance, Victor Osimhen seized on Spurs’ constant errors, scoring twice before halftime and adding weight to Yunus Akgun’s stunning six-minute opener.
Will Lankshear, a young Tottenham talent, had his own moment of success with his first senior goal, though his night ended abruptly with a red card shortly after the hour mark.
Tottenham’s backup defenders were visibly overwhelmed, which was concerning given the squad’s earlier wins provided a slight cushion for injuries and illnesses.
However, the defensive lapses from the start until the final whistle left head coach Ange Postecoglou visibly frustrated. Osimhen was a constant threat and could have easily scored more if not for Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster’s efforts, the offside flag, and a few misplaced shots.
Osimhen’s two goals came through defensive mishaps that would be alarming even in amateur-level games, with Radu Dragusin particularly struggling under the pressure.
The Romanian defender’s errors allowed Osimhen a straightforward finish, and later, he found himself flat-footed when Dries Mertens set up Osimhen for a second.
Postecoglou candidly reflected on Tottenham’s struggles, noting, “In the first half we gave the ball away too much. We lacked composure and allowed Galatasaray to gain control, and we paid the price for that.”
Forster was one of the few Tottenham players to show consistency, while a halftime substitution that saw captain Heung-min Son taken off did little to break Galatasaray’s rhythm in the second half.
Lankshear’s two yellow cards within seven minutes highlighted the inexperience that marked Tottenham’s night. Shortly after, Dominic Solanke’s clever flick from a Pedro Porro cross brought Tottenham a slim sense of hope with 20 minutes remaining, though it was an unlikely reprieve given the game’s flow.
Galatasaray missed numerous chances themselves, including an ambitious long-range strike from Dejan Kulusevski, which followed a risky decision by Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to leave his line and intercept a pass.
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