Paul Onuachu strengthened his status as Turkey’s most decisive forward of the season as Trabzonspor battled to a dramatic 4–3 victory over ten-man Başakşehir on Monday night in the Turkish Super Lig, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian striker, whose resurgence has become one of the most compelling storylines of the campaign, scored a crucial second-half penalty to bring Trabzonspor level before his side completed a late and chaotic turnaround in Istanbul.
His contribution pushed his league tally to nine goals and one assist.
That haul, more significantly, confirmed him as the player who has earned the most points for any club in the Turkish top flight this season, according to OptaCan. Onuachu has won for Trabzonspor a remarkable 12 points directly from his goal contributions.
That figure surpasses even the impact of compatriot Victor Osimhen, whose blockbuster move to Galatasaray shattered the Turkish transfer record this summer.
While Osimhen arrived with global fanfare, it is Onuachu, signed on far more modest terms, who currently tops the goalscoring chart and is driving Trabzonspor’s title push.
Onuachu shines as Başakşehir battle with 10 men but fall late in seven-goal thriller
Despite losing Festy Ebosele to a straight red card in the 10th minute, Başakşehir showed extraordinary resilience throughout a first half that defied expectations. The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute when David Selke converted from the spot after a handball by Okay Yokuşlu.
Trabzonspor responded through Felipe Augusto in the 37th minute, only for Eldor Shomurodov to restore Başakşehir’s advantage on the stroke of halftime, giving the ten-man side a deserved 2–1 lead at the break.
The visitors’ search for an equaliser dragged deep into the second half until the 75th minute, when Olivier Kemen’s handball inside the penalty box handed Trabzonspor a lifeline.
Onuachu stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty. Just minutes later, Ernest Muci finished neatly after a clever pass from Arseniy Batahov, completing the turnaround at 3–2.
But the night refused to settle. Başakşehir equalised in stoppage time as Bertug Yıldırım reacted quickest in a crowded box to force the ball over the line. The celebrations were short-lived. Deep into added time, Muci struck again, rifling home his second goal of the night to seal a breathless 4–3 win for Trabzonspor.
The result keeps Fatih Tekke’s men third on the table, trimming the gap to leaders Galatasaray to four points. Başakşehir, stuck on 13 points, missed a chance to climb into the top half of the league.
Onuachu’s ninth league goal keeps him level at the top of the Super Lig scoring chart with Shomurodov, reinforcing what the numbers already confirm: the Super Eagles forward is Turkey’s most influential attacking force this season.
