Nwakaeme delivers man-of-the-match performance as Trabzonspor run riot at Yeni

The Nigerian international scored one and supplied the assist to another as the Black Seas Storm smashed in five away from home

Nigerian forward Anthony Nwakaeme was one of the stars of the show as Trabzonspor secured a commanding 5-1 victory away to Yeni Malatyaspor in their first Turkish Super Lig match of the season.

Trabzonspor ended last season unbeaten in 12 matches, and they picked it up from there with a convincing victory at the home of their rivals, with much of the damage done in the opening half.

Contrary to earlier reports, as per 61Saat, Nwakaeme was overlooked as the team’s captain ahead of the new season with goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır preferred to lead Trabzonspor out at the Malatya Stadyumu.

Still, the Nigerian international did not show any sign of discouragement as he doubled Trabzonspor’s advantage in the eleventh minute after receiving a pass from Djaniny Tvaris before beating Ertac Orbir in Yeni’s goal.

Ex-Napoli star Marek Hamsik and Anastasios Bakasetas had combined eight minutes earlier to give the visitors the lead.

Nwakaeme then turned provider on the half-hour mark when he supplied the final ball for Gervinho to make it three-nil for Abdullah Avci’s men.

Yeni’s skipper Adem Buyuk reduced the deficit in the 32nd minute but Hamsik restored the visitor’s three-goal advantage ten minutes later.

Djaniny added a fifth from the penalty spot midway through the second half before Nwakaeme was replaced by Yusuf Sari with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The win sends Trabzonspor to the top of the Turkish Super Lig table ahead of Altay, Besiktas, and Ahmed Musa’s Fatih Karagumruk.