Trabzonspor were left to reflect on a missed chance to tighten the Süper Lig title race after Paul Onuachu failed to convert a late penalty in a dramatic draw away to Antalyaspor.
The third-placed side travelled south knowing a win would increase the pressure on leaders Galatasaray, but despite a spirited second-half comeback inspired by their Nigerian striker, Trabzonspor had to settle for a point that felt like a loss.
Onuachu, who had earlier drawn his side level, saw his match-winning opportunity slip away when his second penalty was saved, denying the visitors a complete turnaround.
The match began awkwardly for Trabzonspor, who struggled to impose themselves in the first half.
Antalyaspor capitalised on that uncertainty shortly before the break, when Sander van de Streek struck in the 42nd minute to give the hosts a deserved lead.
The goal forced Trabzonspor into a reactive position, with their ambitions of mounting a title challenge suddenly under threat.
The response came after the interval, led by Onuachu.
In the 53rd minute, the Nigerian international calmly dispatched a penalty to restore parity at 1-1, underlining his growing influence since arriving in Turkey.
The goal was his 13th of the season in just 17 league appearances, further evidence of his central role in Trabzonspor’s attacking play, complemented by an assist already to his name.
Momentum appeared to swing firmly in Trabzonspor’s favour as the visitors pressed for a winner.
According to Complete Sports, the decisive moment arrived late on when they were awarded a second penalty, presenting Onuachu with the chance to complete his brace and secure all three points.
This time, however, the striker was unable to repeat his earlier success, and the miss proved costly as the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
The draw leaves Trabzonspor third in the standings on 42 points, four adrift of Galatasaray, representing a missed opportunity to close the gap at the summit of the Turkish league.
While the performance showed character and resilience, the inability to capitalise fully will concern a side with ambitions of challenging higher up the table.
Individually, Onuachu’s form remains encouraging.
Fresh from his involvement with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals, the striker has continued to deliver at club level.
He notably scored in Nigeria’s 3-1 group-stage victory over Uganda, and despite the late miss in Antalya, his overall contribution continues to underline his importance to Trabzonspor’s season.
