◤UEFA Conference League◢ Record breaking Mohamed Salah scores and assists as Trabzonspor secure a 2-4 away victory against KuPS..

Trabzonspor secured a 4-2 away victory against the Finnish Veikkausliiga defending champions KuPS on Thursday on matchday 2 of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League league phase at the Tammelan Stadion on Tuesday.

In the first half, Onuachu scored by volleying the ball into the net, and Salah added a goal on the rebound, marking a new personal milestone. In the second half, Franculino also found the net from close range. KuPS, however, mounted a spirited comeback, creating several dangerous moments. Pennanen scored directly from a corner kick, though Parzyszek later missed a penalty. At a crucial juncture, Franculino slotted home, and a strike from Engvall which was initially parried by the goalkeeper, still found its way into the net. Ultimately, Trabzonspor emerged as 4-2 winners. Following this round of matches, the Turkish Süper Lig side, who got off to a flying start, sits in 3rd place with 3 points, while KuPS are in 31st place with 0 points.

First Half

In the 3rd minute, Mohamed Salah delivered a diagonal overhead pass from the right wing. After successfully beating the offside trap, Paul Onuachu quickly followed up, got the ball and dribbled into the right side of the box before volleying the ball into the empty net past the outrushing Johannes Kreidl with his right foot. ed shot, giving Trabzonspor an early 1-0 lead! This is the former Southampton striker's 46th goal across all competitions for Trabzonspor. 

In the 44th minute, Salah passes horizontally from the right wing. Aral Şimşir quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his left foot from the right side of the box. His shot was initially saved and parried not far away by Niilo Kuusasalo. Upon picking up the loose ball, Salah took a left-footed follow-up shot from the right side of the box, which flew straight into the top-left corner of the net, well beyond the reach of Kreidl! Trabzonspor extended its lead to 2–0! With this goal, the former Liverpool legend reached a record-breaking 65 goals in European competitions, making him the highest-scoring Egyptian player in the history of UEFA club competitions!

Furthermore, he also set another record by becoming the second player, following his former teammate Cody Gakpo, to both score and provide an assist in the Champions League, the Europa League, and the Conference League!

At halftime, KuPS temporarily entered the break trailing Trabzonspor by 0–2.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 47th minute, Wagner Pina passes horizontally from the right side of the box. Franculino quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, struck the ball with his right foot from the center of the box. His shot was saved and parried not far away by Kreidl. Upon picking up the loose ball, Franculino tapped the ball into the bottom-right corner of the empty net with his left foot from a very close distance in the box, extending Trabzonspor’s lead to 0–3!

7 minutes later, KuPS earned a deadly corner kick opportunity. Petri Pennanen took the corner by curling a right-footed shot from a tight angle directly into the top-right corner of the net turning it into a spectacular strike that left André Onana with no chance. KuPS pulled one back at 1–3! 

In the 58th minute, Samet Akaydin committed a handball foul while attempting to clear the ball inside his own penalty area. The referee immediately blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick to KuPS!

Piotr Parzyszek stepped up to take the penalty, striking the ball with his right foot, but Onana made a successful save. KuPS missed a golden opportunity to pull another goal back!

In the first minute of the injury time, Ernest Muçi passes horizontally from the byline at the left side of the box. Franculino quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, tapped the ball home with his left foot from a very close distance in the box to secure his brace, restoring a three-goal lead for Trabzonspor at 4–1!

5 minutes later, Saikou Touray made a straight pass from the right wing. Gustav Engvall quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleyign the ball with his right foot from the right side of the box. Onana managed to get a touch on his shot, but it still deflected into the bottom left corner of the net. KuPS managed to pull another goal back to make it 4–2, but it was too little, too late!

When final whistle is blown, Trabzonspor secured a 4–2 away victory over KuPS.

Image source: Internet / UEFA Official Website