Galatasaray beat Elfsborg 4-3 in UEFA Europa League matchday 3 opener

​​​​​​​By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

Galatasaray beat Sweden's Elfsborg 4-3 in a UEFA Europa League matchday 3 opener Thursday.

The Turkish Super Lig club’s Argentine striker Mauro Icardi scored on a rebound of a shot by Dries Mertens, which came off from the crossbar in the 28th minute at Rams Park.

Lions' defender Abdulkerim Bardakci's header hit Elfsborg goalie Isak Pettersson and went in in the 39th minute.

Turkish forward Baris Alper Yilmaz's quick turn and shot to the bottom corner made it 3-0 for the hosts in the 44th minute.

Elfsborg defender Niklas Hult got one back with an easy finish in the 52nd minute.

Elfsborg midfielder Michael Baidoo scored on a penalty kick after Yilmaz's handball in the 65th minute.

Yunus Akgun relieved the home fans by scoring Galatasaray's fourth goal after a dribble into the penalty area in the 83rd minute.

Johan Larsson gave hope to Elfsborg with his late goal in the 92nd minute.

Galatasaray's Belgian attacker Michy Batshuayi put the ball into the net in the 95th minute, nine minutes after entering the match, but it was disallowed because of an offside.

Galatasaray climbed to top of the league table with 7 points after the match. Elfsborg are in the 16th spot with 3 points.

- Bodo/Glimt beat Braga 2-1

Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt beat Portuguese Braga 2-1 with late goal of Villads Nielsen in another Europa League game on Thursday.

Hakon Evjen brought the lead to Bodo in the 56th minute, then Braga's Sikou Niakate equalized in the 64th minute.

Villads Nielsen's goal in the 94th minute brought the victory to the Norwegians.

Bodo/Glimt are at the second spot in the league with 7 points and a goal difference behind Galatasaray, while Braga lay at the 20th spot with 3 points.