Galatasaray have secured a 1-1 draw with Astana to earn a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
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Ahead of the game, both teams were aware that they were unable to progress in the Champions League, but with plenty at stake as far as the Europa League was concerned, the two sides pushed forward in search of glory in Turkey.
The first chance of note fell to the visitors, with Patrick Twumasi striking the post after cutting inside onto his left foot, but Galatasaray almost found an opener themselves when Lukas Podolski struck the ball just off target.
Astana, who needed victory to qualify for the Europa League, ended the first half on the front foot, and after Twumasi had fired across goal, Marin Anicic failed to test Fernando Muslera from close range.
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The hosts returned for the second half by pushing Astana back, with Wesley Sneijder and Selcuk Inan both going close, but on 63 minutes, the visitors went in front as Twumasi volleyed home at the back post to put his team in line to win in European football's premier competition for the first time.
However, within a minute, Galatasaray were on level terms through Selcuk, who fired the ball through a pack of bodies before seeing the ball sneak in at the near post.
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Despite a draw being enough for the home side, they continued to plough forward but with the score remaining the same as the match entered the closing stages, Astana threw men forward in search of what would be a historic goal.
Just before the start of added-on time, Twumasi fired over the crossbar from a promising position, but after that opportunity went begging, Galatasaray were able to see out the rest of the game to earn European football in February.
Darren Plant
