JAKARTA - Demba Ba celebrated his striking role in İstanbul Basaksehir's 2-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday.
After a faltering start in European club competition - losing to RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain, Okan Bad's men found their winning formula against the Red Devils.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker opened the scoring at the Fatih Terim Stadium in the 12th minute. This is his first goal this season.
Ba, 35 years and 163 days old, is the second oldest African player to score a Champions League goal. He lost to Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba, who scored the last Champions League goal in November 2014 aged 36 years and 259 days.
35y 163d - Demba Ba is the second oldest African player to score a Champions League goal, behind only Didier Drogba, who was 36 years and 259 days old when he scored his final goal in November 2014. Unmarked. pic.twitter.com/mxyca6GMNZ
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 4, 2020
Istanbul Basaksehir then doubled the lead through Edin Visca in the 40th minute, before Anthony Martial narrowed the deficit ahead of halftime. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were unable to make a comeback in the second half.
Ba's outstanding performance that night earned him the title man of the match. He celebrated this through uploads on social media.
"I am very grateful to still be able to appear and score goals on the biggest football stage. And was selected as the man of the match in the Champions League, "the veteran player chirped.
So grateful to still be able to perform and score in the biggest stage of football. And being voted @ChampionsLeague man of the match .. #Alhamdulillah #resilience pic.twitter.com/ml7rXSpZTO
- Demba Ba (@d Moistafoot) November 5, 2020
Despite these results, Istanbul Basaksehir sits at the bottom of Group H having collected three points from three matches. Ba et al continue their season in Turkey's top flight when Genclerbirligi visits on Sunday.
The defending Turkish champions are seventh after collecting 10 points from seven matches.
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