Galatasaray overcomes Braga to advance to Champions League knockout round

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray's Felipe Melo celebrates with fans during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match against Sporting Braga in Braga. EPA photo

Galatasaray booked a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League last night after defeating already-eliminated Braga 2-1 in Portugal.

The team, which needed to match the result of Romania’s CFR Cluj to advance from Group H behind group winners Manchester United, fell behind in the first half to a strike from Brazilian Mossoro in the 32nd minute.

The Lions were forced to press for the comeback in the second half, especially after Cluj forged ahead 1-0 in Manchester – a result that would have sent Galatasaray into the Europa League instead of the Champions League knockouts.

Impressive strike Burak Yılmaz leveled the scores in the 58th minute with his sixth of the tournament, giving him a share of the competition lead with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Aydın Yılmaz then scored the winner with 12 minutes remaining to send Galatasaray through.