Mohamed Salah starts as Trabzonspor suffer Europa League defeat to Ferencvarosi

Trabzonspor were beaten 1-0 at home by Ferencvarosi in the final qualifying round for the UEFA Europa League league phase, with Mohamed Salah making his first start for the Turkish club.

The only goal came in the 17th minute, when Christopher Zachariassen produced an excellent header to give the Hungarian side victory at Papara Park.

Salah played the full match but could not help Trabzonspor find an equaliser. The second leg will be played in Hungary next Thursday, with Trabzonspor needing to overturn the deficit to reach the league phase.

The Egyptian forward had previously appeared as a substitute in Trabzonspor’s opening Turkish league match of the season, a 1-1 draw with Kasımpasa. He came on in the 58th minute of that game.

Trabzonspor started with Andre Onana, Sidney Lopez Cabral, Chibuike Nwajuo, Cenk Ozkacar, Wagner Pina, Benjamin Bouchouari, Melih Kabasakal, Noah Saviolo, Umut Nayir, Salah and Paul Onuachu.

Salah had an early opportunity to put the hosts in front after being released by Onana. He went through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to convert, with the ball rebounding off him and going behind for a goal kick.

Ferencvarosi then made the most of their first attack. Zachariassen was left with space in the 17th minute and headed beyond Onana, who had little chance as Trabzonspor’s defence failed to deal with the danger.

The home side appealed for a penalty seven minutes later after Onuachu went down following a challenge inside the area, but no spot-kick was awarded.

Salah remained one of Trabzonspor’s main attacking outlets. In the 26th minute, he delivered a skilful cross with the outside of his foot, only for the Hungarian defence to divert the ball behind for a corner.

Onana was called into action in the 36th minute when Ferencvarosi striker Deli tested him with a dangerous shot. The Trabzonspor goalkeeper reacted well to push the effort away for another corner.

Trabzonspor attempted to use Salah’s pace on the counter-attack, with Onana sending a long pass forward in the 37th minute. Salah raced onto it before finding Umut Nayir, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area went wide of the right post.

Salah tried again four minutes before half-time, but Ferencvarosi defenders dispossessed him. The visitors therefore took a 1-0 lead into the break.

After the interval, Salah continued to look for a way through while Onuachu missed further chances for Trabzonspor. Salah’s first opening of the second half came in the 49th minute, when he received the ball inside the penalty area and shot wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

Onuachu came close to levelling five minutes later when his header struck the crossbar. Salah attempted to follow up, but Ferencvarosi defenders intervened before he could reach the rebound.

The Egyptian created another chance in the 71st minute with a cross for full-back Pina, but the Hungarian goalkeeper saved and the ball was turned behind for a corner.

Ferencvarosi managed the closing stages effectively, using legitimate delays to run down the clock. Trabzonspor’s task became even harder in stoppage time when defender Chibuike Nwajuo was sent off after a strong challenge on a Ferencvarosi player.

The referee blew for full time soon afterwards, confirming a narrow 1-0 defeat for Trabzonspor ahead of next week’s decisive return match in Hungary.