Trabzonspor 2-0 Gaziantep FK: Savić & Muçi Secure Fifth Straight Win
Trabzonspor swept aside Gaziantep FK 2-0 at Papara Park on Sunday, extending their winning run to five consecutive league victories and cementing their place among the Süper Lig’s early pacesetters. Goals from Stefan Savić on the stroke of half-time and a thunderous second-half strike from Ernest Muçi delivered a professional, controlled performance that underlined the transformation under Thomas Reis.
Reis has now become the first manager in Trabzonspor’s history to win his opening five Süper Lig matches in charge. The German’s side sit third with 22 points after 10 games, while Gaziantep FK remain mired in the lower reaches on eight points and have now suffered five straight defeats.
Controlled start, clinical finish
Trabzonspor dominated possession from the outset (around 57-58%) and created the clearer chances, though Gaziantep showed early threat on the counter. Deian Sorescu and Juninho Bacuna tested André Onana in the opening half-hour, but the Cameroonian international was equal to everything. At the other end, Paul Onuachu headed wide and several promising moves broke down in the final third.
The breakthrough arrived in first-half stoppage time. Mohamed Salah swung in a corner from the left. Muçi rose to flick the ball on at the near post, and Savić reacted first, guiding a right-footed finish that clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in. 1-0, and the Papara Park faithful erupted.
Muçi seals the points
After the restart Trabzonspor tightened their grip. In the 61st minute Muçi produced the moment of quality that settled the contest. Collecting the ball in space on the right edge of the area, the Albanian international took a touch to set himself and unleashed a powerful, rising drive that flew past Ataberk Dadakdeniz into the far corner. A goal of real conviction and the scoreline that reflected the home side’s superiority.
Gaziantep pushed for a response. Karamba Gassama forced Onana into a sharp double save later in the half, and Alexandru Maxim headed over in stoppage time, but the visitors never seriously threatened an equaliser. Trabzonspor managed the game intelligently, limiting clear-cut chances and seeing out the result with composure.
The bigger picture
This was another display of the organisation, intensity and clinical edge Reis has instilled. Five wins from five under the new coach, 22 points already on the board, and a defence that has conceded just eight goals all season tell their own story. Next up is a tricky trip to Alanyaspor, where the challenge will be to maintain this momentum away from the cauldron of Papara Park.
For Gaziantep the problems are mounting. A fifth successive defeat leaves them deep in the bottom half and searching for answers before they host Kasımpaşa. The gap between the two sides on the day was clear; the gap in the table is beginning to look equally stark.
Trabzonspor are not merely winning. Under Thomas Reis they are beginning to look like genuine contenders. The Fırtına is blowing strongly once again.
