Gelsenkirchen-born Hamit Altıntop produced a sensational strike to set Galatasaray on the way to a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win at former club Schalke 04.
After a 1-1draw in the first leg, Schalke were deemed to be in the driving seat ahead of Tuesday's second-leg in Germany and duly took the lead within 20 minutes through Roman Neustädter.
Yet it did not take the Turkish side long to hit back, and it was Altıntop, of all people, who brought the tie back to life on 37 minutes.
Selçuk İnan declined the opportunity to swing a free kick into the box, instead squaring it to Altıntop 25 yards from goal.
And the Turkey international, who played for Schalke between 2003 and 2007, struck a fierce drive which swerved away from Timo Hildebrand and went in off the foot of the post.
Four minutes later, the tournament joint top goalscorer Burak Yılmaz added a second to put Galatasaray into the driving seat and turn the game on its head.
Michel Bastos then equalised in the second half to give Schalke hope of a dramatic comeback but the Germans could not find the winner despite dominating the closing stages, and Umut Bulut snatched a win for Galatasaray in injury time.
"Levelling the score was quite strange for me. On one hand, I was happy, on the other I had to keep quite a few emotions in check," Altıntop told UEFA.com
"I hope the Schalke fans will forgive me for scoring today."
Team Personal Also see:
 | |
| Galatasaray player Hamit Altıntop shoots to score his team's first goal against Schalke Photo: Getty Images |
After a 1-1draw in the first leg, Schalke were deemed to be in the driving seat ahead of Tuesday's second-leg in Germany and duly took the lead within 20 minutes through Roman Neustädter.
Yet it did not take the Turkish side long to hit back, and it was Altıntop, of all people, who brought the tie back to life on 37 minutes.
Selçuk İnan declined the opportunity to swing a free kick into the box, instead squaring it to Altıntop 25 yards from goal.
And the Turkey international, who played for Schalke between 2003 and 2007, struck a fierce drive which swerved away from Timo Hildebrand and went in off the foot of the post.
Four minutes later, the tournament joint top goalscorer Burak Yılmaz added a second to put Galatasaray into the driving seat and turn the game on its head.
Michel Bastos then equalised in the second half to give Schalke hope of a dramatic comeback but the Germans could not find the winner despite dominating the closing stages, and Umut Bulut snatched a win for Galatasaray in injury time.
"Levelling the score was quite strange for me. On one hand, I was happy, on the other I had to keep quite a few emotions in check," Altıntop told UEFA.com
"I hope the Schalke fans will forgive me for scoring today."
Team Personal Also see:
