Savic Delivers as VAR Drama Crowns Trabzon's Perfect Start

Average Futmetrix Score: 40/100. Trabzonspor's flawless campaign continues thanks to Stefan Savic's clinical 38th-minute header and a crucial VAR intervention that denied Felipe Augusto's leveller at the 43-minute mark.

Savic's Set-Piece Mastery Breaks the Deadlock

Three matches into the season, Trabzonspor remain unbeaten—and Savic's towering header in the opening period proved why. The home side's intensity from dead-ball situations paid dividends when the defender rose highest to open the scoring. Antalyaspor, despite matching their hosts in possession (50-50 split), struggled to generate genuine stakes, managing just 0.76 xG across 7 attempts.

VAR's Intervention Shapes the Narrative

The match's intensity reached its apex in the 43rd minute when VAR disallowed Felipe Augusto's goal—a decision that sent shockwaves through the stadium. Trabzonspor unleashed 17 shots (6 on target), while Antalya managed only 7 (4 on target). Goalkeeper heroics proved decisive, with nine combined saves between the two teams. Lautaro Giannetti's introduction as a substitute bolstered Antalya's defensive resolve, though Mustafa Eskihellac's two key passes underscored Trabzon's midfield control.

Title Race Implications

This victory cements Trabzonspor's position at the summit of the title race. Third-placed with 9 points from three games—a perfect record—they've already established a three-point cushion over seventh-placed Antalyaspor (6 points). The home side's 83% pass accuracy and clinical finishing in the final third suggest they possess the quality to sustain this momentum. For Antalya, the balance was nearly restored, but VAR's intervention left them chasing shadows.