Monitoring Desk
LONDON, England
(TheSportsNEXT) November 8, 2012: Burak Yilmaz grabbed a hat-trick as
Galatasaray kept their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout
stages alive with a fine 3-1 win at CFR Cluj, the official FIFA website
reported.
The Turkish side went into the game without a win in the
competition so far and knowing only victory would realistically be enough to
give them hope of going through behind group winners Manchester United.
And the visitors were immediately on the offensive with Emre
Colak coming close in the sixth minute with a shot from 12 yards which flashed
just wide of the Romanian goal.
Yilmaz opened his account in the 18th minute when Selcuk
Inan played a lofted through ball and the striker connected to head the opener
into the top corner of the net.
Luis Alberto had the first real chance for Cluj in the 23rd
minute when he brought a save out of Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera, then
Modou Sougou shot wide as the home side threatened.
Cluj came close again at the start of the second half as
Sasa Bjelanovic flashed a header just wide, before Sougou grabbed the equaliser
in the 53rd minute after finishing off a pass from Rafael Bastos.
Bastos shot over as Cluj pressed for a second, but against
the run of play it was Galatasaray who went back in front when Yilmaz netted
his second from close range after a cross from Hamit Altintop was allowed to
run all the way across the area by the home defence.
Mario Felguiras had to be alert to prevent Yilmaz netting
his third in the 70th minute, but four minutes later it came as the striker
slid the ball home from a tight angle to complete his hat-trick.
Bjelanovic came close again for Cluj in the dying seconds,
but Galatasaray coasted home for a victory which gives them renewed hope of
muscling in on the knockout stages.
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