Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu experienced a night of contrasting fortunes as Trabzonspor battled to a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor in Friday’s Turkish Süper Lig clash. The 31-year-old marksman netted his 13th league goal of the campaign to rescue a point for the Black Sea Storm, effectively moving him into a tie for the top-scorer position alongside İstanbul Başakşehir’s Eldor Shomurodov.
However, the night ended with a missed opportunity to secure all three points, as Onuachu failed to convert a decisive second penalty late in the second half.
Antalyaspor broke the deadlock just two minutes before the halftime interval when Sander Van de Streek clinicaly finished a well-worked move to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Trabzonspor responded with increased intensity following the restart, earning a penalty in the 53rd minute which Onuachu calmly dispatched past goalkeeper Julián Cuesta.
The visitors dominated large portions of the closing stages and received a golden chance to move into second place when the referee awarded another spot-kick 11 minutes from time. This time, Cuesta anticipated correctly to deny the Nigerian international, forcing Trabzonspor to settle for a single point.
The result leaves Trabzonspor in third place with 42 points, trailing league leaders Galatasaray by four points as the title race intensifies. For Onuachu, the goal continues a prolific run of form that has seen him become the focal point of the club’s offensive strategy this season. Despite the frustration of the late miss, his physical presence and scoring rate remain vital for Trabzonspor’s aspirations of securing a Champions League qualification berth. The team now shifts its focus to maintaining pressure on the top two teams in the upcoming matchday.
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