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Liverpool benefit from controversial VAR decision as Ibrahima Konate's blushes saved

Ibrahima Konate was left flat on his face as Victor Osimhen tapped the ball into the empty net - but his blushed were saved after a controversial VAR call

19:48, 10 Mar 2026Updated 19:48, 10 Mar 2026

Victor Osimehn thought he had taken advantage of a Ibrahima Konate howler

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Victor Osimehn thought he had taken advantage of a Ibrahima Konate howler(Image: TNT Sports)

Ibrahim Konate was spared being laughed out of Istanbul after VAR came to his rescue after conceding a horrific goal against Galatasaray.

Liverpool's Champions League hopes looked to be hanging by a thread when Victor Osimhen tapped the ball into the empty net with Konate lying flat in his face in the six-yard box.

The France centre-half had already gaffed with an attempted back pass which went straight to Noa Lang. Then when he attempted to intercept the Dutch winger's cross he ended up doing an impression of a dying swan as he attempted to flick the ball clear, leaving Osimhen to tap into an empty goal and celebrate what he thought was the Turkish side's second goal.

Victor Osimehn thought he had given Galatasaray a 2-0 lead against Liverpool

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Victor Osimehn thought he had given Galatasaray a 2-0 lead against Liverpool(Image: TNT Sports)

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Incredibly after a VAR check Baris Alper Yilmaz was the man adjudged to be offside. He didn't actually touch the ball during the move leading to the goal but was beyond the last defender and initially made a move towards the ball.

It was a huge let off for him and Liverpool.

But then roles were reserved when Konate looked as if he had scored a crucial equaliser for Arne Slot's side who have never won against a Turkish club in Instanbul.

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The goal was chalked off after a VAR decision

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The goal was chalked off after a VAR decision(Image: TNT Sports)

The centre-half thought he had scored when he bundled the ball home in the 70th-minute but few Liverpool players celebrated.

In the end Liverpool managed to hang on to a 1-0 defeat which gives them hope of going through to the last eight of the Champions League when the two sides meet in the second leg at Anfield next Wednesday.

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