A stunning Salah Hat-Trick inspired Trabzonspor to a commanding 4-0 victory over defending Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray on Saturday, handing the Istanbul giants their first league defeat of the season. Salah came up with the first break almost from the off, making the fourth minute his 1-0 advantage. The forward lit a fire through the midfield before remaining composed and calmly putting the ball past the keeper in the final third.
Trabzonspor got another chance to capitalize in the 39th minute when Salah was able to deliver in a double. The forward found himself space before getting the ball into the hands of Noah Saviolo and finished up clinically to make it 2-0. The hosts got back on the scoreboard five minutes later. Salah had a quick attack from a teammate and set up the assist for him by Franculino Dju to put Trabzonspor 3-0 ahead before half-time.
Galatasaray couldn’t hit it after the break, Trabzonspor were still a threat on the break. Salah then found the back of the net again in the 80th minute, after a breakneck run on much of the field without pressure, he finished with a calm side-footed shot.
In the 71st minute, the visitors’ impatience finally got the better of them, with Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk being replaced by a member of the stands. It was made worse for them when Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off seven minutes from the end of the first half. Thomas Reis, the new head coach of Trabzonspor after Fatih Tekke, had an impressive debut for the club with the emphatic victory.
Trabzonspor finished in fifth place of the Super Lig table after six matches with 10 points, and is in three points from Galatasaray. The win was the first defeat for the defending champions in their unbeaten start, and marked a tough night in Trabzon.
