Black Sea Derby Ends in Heartbreak: Trabzonspor's Title Push Stalls

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. Trabzonspor and Samsunspor's regional clash delivered VAR controversy and a dramatic late equalizer—a six-pointer lost in the title race.

Onuachu's Early Strike and VAR's Intervention

Paul Onuachu broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, finishing a crisp move orchestrated by Oleksandr Zubkov's creative pass. Trabzonspor controlled proceedings with 55% possession, but the intensity spiked dramatically in the 64th when VAR cancelled a penalty awarded to Onuachu. The decision shifted momentum entirely, exposing the fragility of the home side's dominance. Samsunspor's 13 shots—more than Trabzonspor's nine—revealed an imbalanced contest masked by possession figures.

Marius Strikes Late: The Equalizer That Hurt

In the 88th minute, Marius smashed home the leveller, shattering Trabzonspor's hopes of a clean victory. The balance had shifted twice during the match, with Samsunspor's relentless corner pressure—10 in total—finally paying dividends. Uğurcan Çakır's three saves kept Trabzonspor alive, but the final whistle confirmed a missed opportunity. Second-placed Trabzonspor, on 10 points, now trail the leaders by four. Samsunspor, sixth with eight points, salvaged a draw from a match where their expected goals (0.98) outweighed Trabzonspor's (0.56).

The Real Story: Possession Without Precision

Trabzonspor's 86% pass accuracy masked a toothless attacking display. Yunus Emre Çift's standout performance anchored Samsunspor's resistance, while Zubkov's two key passes represented the hosts' creative lifeline. This wasn't a case of the better team losing—it was a cautionary tale about dominance without cutting edge. In a title race this tight, such six-pointers define seasons. Trabzonspor's unbeaten run ended not with a defeat, but with the hollow sting of a lead surrendered in the dying moments.