Soccer
Paul Onuachu Trabzonspor striker. (Photo credit: Club X)
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu failed to find the target as Trabzonspor were held to a frustrating 1-1 home draw against Basaksehir, Soccernet.ng reports.
After missing last week’s stalemate at Alanyaspor, Onuachu returned to the starting lineup at Papara Park. Heading into the fixture, Trabzonspor sat third in the Süper Lig, trailing leaders Galatasaray by six points. A victory was essential to remain within striking distance of the Cimbom.
Basaksehir, meanwhile, arrived with their own ambitions, desperate for points to keep their hopes of continental football alive. With both sides having much to play for, a cagey encounter was expected.
The Black Sea Storm featured a trio of Nigerian talent, with Chibuike Nwaiwu, Onuachu, and Anthony Nwakaeme all handed starts.
They dominated possession from the outset and, after a quiet opening 15 minutes, began carving out quality opportunities. Onuachu had two clear sights of goal in the 14th and 18th minutes, but neither effort found the back of the net. Despite several promising exchanges from both sides, the first half ended goalless.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Trabzonspor controlled the tempo, with Onuachu and Nwakaeme both squandering gilt-edged chances within the first 15 minutes of the restart.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute. However, it wasn’t Onuachu who provided the breakthrough, but his strike partner, Felipe Augusto. While it appeared Trabzonspor would coast to a narrow victory, a late header from Davie Selke leveled the scores, ensuring the points were shared.
🚨 Davie Selke 90′ +3
🇹🇷 Trabzonspor 1-1 Başakşehirpic.twitter.com/obmMs7dh0g
— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) April 19, 2026
Onuachu has been the talisman for his side this season, but despite being expected to deliver in the final third, he endured a rare off-night in front of goal.
Trabzonspor Falter: Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray Set to Capitalize
With Trabzonspor dropping points, the title race has shifted in favor of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. The top two sides now have significant breathing room at the summit of the table.
In a further boost for the league leaders, Victor Osimhen—who has been sidelined with a forearm injury—is expected to return for Galatasaray’s high-stakes Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce.
A victory for the Cimbom in that clash would establish a seven-point cushion over their arch-rivals. While such a result could theoretically allow Trabzonspor to sneak back into the race for second place, today’s draw against Basaksehir makes their path to the Süper Lig title look increasingly steep.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
Read MoreKelvin Omachonu