Galatasaray ended their five-year wait for domestic cup silverware with a dominant 3-0 victory over Trabzonspor in Wednesday’s Turkish Cup final, underlining their supremacy in Turkish football with a composed and clinical performance.
Barış Alper Yılmaz set the tone early, scoring in the 5th minute to give the Lions an immediate advantage. Though Galatasaray didn’t create many clear chances in the first half, their defensive discipline ensured they carried the lead into halftime.
After the break, it was Victor Osimhen who took center stage. The Nigerian striker doubled the lead seconds into the second half, then netted again in the 63rd minute to seal the win. Osimhen’s brace not only secured the trophy but also etched his name into the history books: his 35 goals in 39 appearances this season set a new record for a foreign player in Turkish football, surpassing Mario Jardel’s 34-goal mark.
With the outcome beyond doubt, coach Okan Buruk rotated key players, preserving legs as fans began to celebrate both the trophy and the team’s red-hot form. Galatasaray have now won eight straight matches across all competitions, scoring 25 goals and conceding just four in that span. The run began after a derby defeat to Beşiktaş and includes league wins over Samsunspor, Bodrum FK, Eyüpspor, Sivasspor, and Trabzonspor—twice—plus cup victories against Fenerbahçe and Konyaspor.
Galatasaray’s dominance over Trabzonspor continued as well; they’ve now beaten them six times in a row, including all three meetings this season. While previous encounters were tightly contested—such as the 4-3 thriller in Istanbul—the final was a controlled, clinical display.
The win marked Galatasaray’s third Turkish Cup triumph over Trabzonspor in four final meetings, adding to previous victories in 1976 and 1985. This one, however, was emphatic.
Yılmaz’s opener marked his 13th goal of the season and first in the cup, while Osimhen’s heroics reinforced his role as the team’s talisman. Signed on loan from Napoli last summer, he has become a fan favorite, with chants urging the club to make his stay permanent echoing throughout the stadium.
As the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted. Supporters chanted the names of club president Dursun Özbek and coach Okan Buruk, hailing the leadership driving the club toward a potential league and cup double.
One of the night’s most touching moments came after the final whistle, when club legend Fernando Muslera—who did not feature in the cup campaign—raced onto the pitch to embrace fellow goalkeeper Günay Güvenç. Together, they led the celebrations, with Muslera lifting Günay’s hand to the fans, allowing him to soak in the moment as the hero between the posts.
With the cup secured and confidence soaring, Galatasaray now set their sights on completing a dominant domestic double.