The biggest match of the Turkish elite division this weekend between two former champions turned out to be the most thrilling, with a Nigerian star having the final word
Nigerian forward Anthony Nwakaeme struck the last goal of the evening to rescue Trabzonspor from the edge of defeat in his side’s 2-2 draw against Galatasaray on Sunday.
The hosts had secured maximum points from each of their first three games of the season but it was never going to be easy against Fatih Terim’s men, record 22-time league winners.
But in Nwakaeme, the Black Sea Storm boasted arguably the best player in the Turkish top-flight, with the Nigerian forward scoring in three consecutive matches.
The 32-year-old attacker had consistently found the back of the net as coach Abdullah Avcı’s men forced defeats down the throats of Yeni Malatyaspor (1-5), Sivasspor (2-1), and Giresunspor (0-1).
And for a while at the Medical Park Stadyumu, Trabzon, it appeared like it would not be a day to celebrate for him as Galatasaray raced to a two-goal lead courtesy of an Emre Kilinc brace within the opening 33 minutes.
But striker Andreas Cornelius halved the deficit for Trabzonspor shortly before the halftime whistle went off.
And just past the hour mark, Nwakaeme got the goal his all-round performance merited as he pounced on a Marek Hamsik pass to lash home the equaliser for the six-time Super Lig champions.
The one-cap Super Eagles star’s latest strike rescued a point for the home side, leaving them in second place, levelled on ten points with leaders Besiktas.
With four goals in as many matches, Nwakaeme now tops the Turkish Super Lig’s goalscorer’s chart and will look to keep up his form as Trabzonspor chase their first league title since 1984.
