Trabzonspor's Onuachu Forced Off Injured, Reis Reacts

Trabzonspor secured a 4-2 away victory over Finnish side KuPS in their opening UEFA Conference League fixture. However, the celebration over an early goal quickly turned to concern. Paul Onuachu, who found the net in the 3rd minute, was forced off the pitch shortly afterward due to injury.

Franculino replaced the Nigerian striker in the 10th minute. Trabzonspor demonstrated their squad depth and ultimately left the field victorious. The match had a fluctuating scoreline, with the lead narrowing from 3-0 to 3-1 at one point, while a penalty incident added further tension to proceedings.

Speaking after the match, head coach Thomas Reis first highlighted the difficulty of the away fixture. Despite a long journey and unfamiliar pitch and weather conditions, he said his team put in a solid performance, with goals arriving at crucial moments. Reis also praised KuPS for their fighting spirit throughout the contest.

Addressing Onuachu's injury, Reis described it as an extremely unfortunate incident. He noted that the striker had been training very well and started the match impressively before scoring his goal. The German coach expressed hope for a swift return for the Nigerian, adding that injuries should never be used as excuses but rather seen as opportunities for other players.

Reis also pointed to the quality within his squad, noting that training continued smoothly despite several players being away on international duty during the break. He acknowledged that the team has not yet reached its peak level and that there remains room for improvement, drawing a comparison to their previous match against Samsunspor.