
Galatasaray scored a last-minute winner to knock out Girondins Bordeaux in a seven-goal thriller to reach the last 16 and stay on course for a UEFA Cup final in their home city of Istanbul.
Turkey defender Sabri Sarioglu struck from the edge of the penalty area
to give the 2000 UEFA Cup winners a 4-3 first knockout round victory at
the Ali Sami Yen stadium as Bordeaux's fine fightback from 3-1 down
ended in heartbreak.
The May 20 final will be staged at the home of Galatasaray's arch-rivals Fenerbahce.
Bordeaux had threatened to spoil coach Bulent Korkmaz's first game in
charge of last season's Turkish champions by taking a first-minute
lead, the opening goal of the tie after a goalless first leg in France.
Korkmaz, a former Turkish international and Gala captain who was
appointed on Monday after Michael Skibbe was sacked, had barely taken
his seat before David Bellion ran on to Diego Placente's long ball and
fired home.
The hosts then took control with two quick goals just before halftime
from Arda Turan and substitute Harry Kewell followed by another midway
through the second half from midfielder Turan.
Bordeaux stormed back to level at 3-3 through Marouane Chamakh and
Fernando Cavenaghi with 15 minutes remaining and were heading through
on away goals until Sarioglu's winner.
Congratz finally Kewell? Havent heard ur name for a long time