Trabzonspor’s push for the Turkish Süper Lig title suffered a painful blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Alanyaspor, with the absence of key striker Paul Onuachu proving decisive, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Black Sea side came into the game full of confidence after a strong run of wins, but without their leading scorer, they lacked their usual cutting edge in attack.
Onuachu, who missed the match due to a muscle injury picked up in training, has been central to Trabzonspor’s season, scoring 22 league goals, around 40% of the team’s total. His physical presence, especially in the air, has been a major weapon, and it was clearly missed in Alanya.
Trabzonspor still managed to take the lead in the second half. After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Ozan Tufan broke the deadlock in the 58th minute to give the visitors hope of another vital win in the title race. However, that lead did not last long. Following a VAR review, Alanyaspor were awarded a penalty, and Güven Yalçın calmly converted in the 67th minute to bring the home side level.
Despite pushing for a winner late on, Trabzonspor could not find a second goal. Their usual threat from crosses into the box looked far less dangerous without Onuachu’s towering presence, and the match ended 1-1, a result that felt like a defeat in the context of their title ambitions.
Trabzonspor: Nwakaeme and Nwaiwu step up, but draw still hurts
There were still some positives for Trabzonspor, particularly in the performances of Anthony Nwakaeme and Chibuike Nwaiwu.
Nwakaeme, who played 84 minutes before being substituted, remained lively in attack and tried to drive his team forward. He came into the game in good form after providing the winning assist in the recent victory over Galatasaray, and he once again showed flashes of quality, even if he could not deliver the decisive moment this time.
At the back, Nwaiwu completed the full 90 minutes and continued to underline his importance to the team. The central defender has been a standout performer this season and remains a threat going forward as well, having recently scored a crucial winning header. His composure and defensive work helped Trabzonspor avoid defeat, but it was not enough to secure all three points.
This result ends Trabzonspor’s winning streak and sees them drop points for the first time in six weeks. They now sit on 64 points, still in the title race but with momentum slightly lost. With rivals breathing down their neck and leaders Galatasaray holding a game in hand, this draw could prove costly in the final weeks of the season.
Trabzonspor will now look to bounce back quickly when they host Başakşehir in their next match, knowing that any further slip-ups could end their championship dreams
