Mohamed Salah's second goal for Trabzonspor in the 36th minute restored his side's lead against Istanbul Basaksehir, but it was a double-edged sword for the 34-year-old winger.
He scored in the eighth minute, capitalising on a loose ball after Basaksehir goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer failed to hold on. Salah's side took an early lead, but it was short-lived as Eldor Shomurodov equalised from the penalty spot in the 19th minute.
The equaliser was a wake-up call for Trabzonspor, but Salah restored his side's lead just three minutes into the second half. The goal was a result of a swift counter-attack, with Salah bursting down the right and exchanging passes with Ernest Muci before slotting the ball into the far corner.
However, the Egyptian winger's day was marred by two disallowed goals. A stoppage-time effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up, and another was ruled out for offside when he found the empty net from long range with the goalkeeper upfield for a corner.
Salah's return to the Turkish Super Lig has been highly anticipated, especially after his trophy-laden nine-year spell at Liverpool. He joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer, and his performance on Sunday was a promising start.
Despite the win, Trabzonspor's season is still far from over. The team suffered a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Europa League playoff against Ferencvaros on Thursday, and they will now turn their attention to the second leg away to Ferencvaros on Thursday.
The Europa League playoff is a crucial stage in the competition, and Trabzonspor will need to regroup and recharge for the second leg. Salah's performance will be crucial in determining the team's chances of progressing to the next round.
Salah's focus will now shift to the second leg, where Trabzonspor will need to overcome a one-goal deficit to have any chance of advancing. The stakes are high, and the Egyptian winger will be eager to make a positive impact on the game.
Source: Yahoo Sports