adminWesley Sneijder beat the snow to give Galatasaray a 1-0 win over Juventus that put his side and not the Italians into the last 16 of the Champions League yesterday.Resuming their game which was abandoned due to the conditions on Tuesday, the two looked set for a goalless draw which would have sent Juve through in the wake of group leaders Real Madrid.
Sneijder changed all that, though, scoring five minutes from the end to bring the Turk Telecom Arena to life and condemn Juve to the Europa League.
It will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Old Lady, whose manager, Antonio Conte, expressed concerns about the pitch as the players went off for half-time, just 14 minutes after ‘kicking off’.
That was after Tuesday’s game bit the dust with 31 minutes on the clock but, even though snow hung around yesterday, the game started for a second time. Juve, needing just a point to progress, had the first opportunity in the 41st minute when Fernando Llorente fed Carlos Tevez in the box and his right-footed shot went just wide of the far post.
At the other end, Aurelien Chedjou should have done better but struck the ball way over the bar after a good cross from Sneijder.
Paul Pogba was first to test Fernando Muslera at the start of the second half with his central effort from 30 yards kept out by the Galatasaray keeper.
The hosts then almost broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Burak Yilmaz fed Didier Drogba just outside the area and his goal-bound attempt towards the far post forced Gianluigi Buffon to make a one-handed save. Gala continued to press forward and Sneijder sent a warning in the 84th minute with a 30-yard attempt that went just wide.
But the Dutchman made no mistake seconds later when he got behind Drogba’s headed pass and fired a right-footed shot from the heart of the area towards the far post and out of Buffon’s reach.
Stunned, Juve tried to react but they ran out of time.
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba, who has been summoned alongside countryman and club mate Emmanuel Eboue for showing written messages in favour of Nelson Mandela during a league match, has indicated having no regrets about the gesture.
The two Cote d’Ivoire internationals of Turkish side Galatasaray revealed vests bearing tribute to the late former South African president during a match against local side SB Elagizspor last week.
“Thank you Madiba” was written on Drogba’s undershirt, while Eboue’s bore the words: “Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela”.
The display of political messages during football matches is not allowed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which immediately invited the disciplinary committee to bring action against the two players.
However, the Cote d’Ivoire captain appears unfazed by the threat and says he would do it again if the opportunity arises. “I’m sorry, but if I have the chance to do it once more, I’d repeat and repeat it,” Drogba said on Tuesday. “This is not to send out political message but because Mandela inspired me personally. He inspired my country, my continent and the rest of the world.”
Players from another Turkish club Fethiyespor were recently charged for wearing T-shirts reading: “Great Ataturk” in homage of the founder of modern Turkey.-Sportsmail.
Online Reporter