Trabzonspor beat Alanyaspor to extend winning streak
Trabzonspor extended their winning run in the Turkish Super Lig to six matches after defeating Alanyaspor 2-0 away from home on Sunday to move into second place on the league table.
The Black Sea club bounced back from their 1-0 home loss to German side Freiburg in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, continuing their impressive domestic campaign under head coach Thomas Reis.
Trabzonspor, who appointed Reis in September, have now recorded eight victories in nine matches across all competitions, with the Freiburg encounter their only defeat during the period.
Cape Verde international Wagner Pina gave the visitors the lead in the 17th minute, capitalising on a long pass from Chibuike Nwaiwu.
Pina controlled the ball on the right, drove into the penalty area and beat the goalkeeper with a shot into the far corner from a difficult angle.
Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah increased Trabzonspor’s advantage in the 34th minute.
Paul Onuachu flicked Ernest Muci’s through pass into Salah’s path, allowing the attacker to evade Nuno Lima’s sliding tackle before sending a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Trabzonspor went into the break with a two-goal lead and continued to threaten after the restart.
Salah came close to scoring his second in the 60th minute, but his curling effort from outside the box narrowly missed the target.
Onuachu also had an opportunity to extend the lead in the 75th minute but sent his effort wide after connecting with a cross from the left.
Alanyaspor attempted to reduce the deficit late in the game, with Omar Ben Ali forcing Trabzonspor goalkeeper Andre Onana into a close-range save in the 85th minute.
The hosts nearly scored in stoppage time when Ben Ali’s touch from Florent Hadergjonaj’s free-kick struck the side of the post.
Fidan Aliti, however, failed to convert the rebound, firing over the crossbar.
The victory moved Trabzonspor to second place with 25 points from 11 matches, three points behind league leaders Galatasaray.
Alanyaspor remained in 13th position with 12 points.
