UECL: KuPS Put Up Fight But Salah-inspired Trabzonspor Too Strong in Conference League
Mohamed Salah inspired Trabzonspor to a 4-2 win over KuPS in Kuopio as the Turkish side ended a nine-match winless run on the road in Europe, despite a spirited second-half fightback from the Finnish champions.
Salah inspires Trabzonspor to Conference League win despite KuPS fightback...
Finnish champions KuPS suffered an opening-round defeat at home in the UEFA Conference League, unable to match the star power of Trabzonspor, who ended a nine-match winless run away from home in the main draw of European competition with a 4-2 victory in Kuopio.
Making their debut in the league phase of the Conference League, Trabzonspor arrived as heavy favourites, buoyed by three wins in their last four matches in all competitions. KuPS, by contrast, have faltered in the defence of their Finnish title, with just one win in six games (D2, L3) leaving them third after 27 matches.
Perhaps lacking confidence, the hosts were dealt an early blow as Trabzonspor raced into a third-minute lead through Paul Onuachu, who latched onto Mohamed Salah’s first-time pass, held off his marker and tucked the ball home.
Sadly for the goalscorer, his evening was cut short in the 10th minute when he was forced off through injury, but his side remained on top in his absence. Having seen five red cards in their last eight games across all competitions, Trabzonspor were shown a sixth here, albeit in unusual circumstances.
Piotr Parzyszek was initially sent off for a second yellow card, but the distraught striker was relieved when the referee corrected his error, having not booked him earlier. Despite the reprieve, KuPS found themselves two goals down at the break after failing to clear their lines, allowing Salah to curl a stunning effort into the top corner for his first European goal for his new club.
Just two minutes after the restart, the game looked all but over when Wagner Pina timed his run from full-back to perfection, giving him the space to square for Franculino, who finished with a simple side-foot.
Only Petteri Pennanen will know whether he meant it when he pulled one back in the 54th minute, the KuPS captain bending a corner all the way in to leave Andre Onana red-faced. Remarkably, the hosts could have reduced the deficit further just four minutes later, but after being awarded a penalty for handball, Parzyszek saw his spot-kick saved by Onana before blazing the rebound over.
Onana had to stay alert to keep KuPS at bay, but Trabzonspor eventually added some gloss to the scoreline as Franculino grabbed his second of the evening on his European debut for the club, slotting home on the counter-attack.
A much-improved second-half display did bring a stoppage-time consolation for Gustav Engvall, who lashed in a loose ball, but there was ultimately no way back for the Finnish side as Trabzonspor ran out 4-2 winners in their first-ever meeting.
For KuPS, this defeat means they have now won just one of their last 16 matches in Europe (D6, L9).
The early #UECL fixtures are done! How did your team get on? 🤔 https://t.co/YS1AKBZKci
— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) October 15, 2026
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