Istanbul: The match between Kasimpasa and their guest Trabzonspor ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, in the first round of the Turkish Super League, marking the debut of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah in his new team’s jersey.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Salah started the match on the Trabzonspor bench before coming on as a substitute in the second half, when the score was tied 1-1. He performed well during his time on the pitch, creating several dangerous opportunities for his teammates.
Trabzonspor enjoyed a slight advantage in the first half and attempted to reach the home team’s goal on several occasions, but their attacks lacked effectiveness. Meanwhile, Kasimpasa’s counter-attacks posed a clear threat to the visitors’ goal.
The first real chance fell to Kasimpasa in the 20th minute when Polish striker Adrian Benediczak unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from inside the penalty area. Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana made the save, before the defense cleared the rebound.
Benediczak threatened Trabzonspor’s goal again in the 39th minute after receiving a pass from Malian Fousseni Diabat© inside the box. He fired a powerful right-footed shot, but Onana was once again equal to the task, making a brilliant save. Trabzonspor finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through Portuguese striker Noah Saviolo. He capitalized on a cross from Metehan Memauroglu, volleying the ball home with his right foot from inside the penalty area.
In the second half, Kasimpasa equalized in the 55th minute through Benedicak from the penalty spot, awarded after Trabzonspor defender Vagner Pena fouled Guven Yalcin inside the box.
The 58th minute saw Mohamed Salah’s debut for Trabzonspor, as coach Fatih Teka brought him on in place of Metehan Mimaroglu to revitalize the attack and inject some energy into the team.
Trabzonspor nearly regained the lead in the 69th minute when Salah delivered a free-kick cross that Montenegrin Stefan Savic met with a powerful header, but the Kasimpasa goalkeeper made the save.
In the 76th minute, Mustafa Eskihilac sent in a cross from the left towards the far post, which Salah met with a first-time shot from the right side of the six-yard box, but it went just wide of the post and across the goal line.
Both teams tried to snatch a winning goal in the remaining minutes, but their efforts failed to change the score, leaving each team with a point in their opening match of the Turkish league.
In another match, Rizespor snatched a valuable victory in stoppage time against their hosts Konyaspor with a single goal scored by Albanian Kazim Laci in the 97th minute from a penalty kick.