ISTANBUL
Trabzonspor’s seven-match winning streak under German head coach Thomas Reis came to an end on Thursday as the Turkish side suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Freiburg in Week 3 of the UEFA Conference League.
Freiburg broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Vincenzo Grifo delivered a corner into the penalty area and Igor Matanovic’s header was parried by goalkeeper Andre Onana. Kubler reacted quickest to the rebound, finishing from close range to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Trabzonspor sought an equalizer in the 29th minute, but Ernest Muci’s long-range effort went narrowly wide of the left post.
The hosts threatened again in the 40th minute when Mohamed Salah fired over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.
Freiburg entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Trabzonspor came close to leveling in the 61st minute when Muci delivered a corner and Paul Onuachu’s header fell to Salah, whose close-range effort was saved by Freiburg goalkeeper Mio Backhaus.
The Black Sea side continued to push forward in the closing minutes, with Onuachu’s header from Salah’s cross deflecting off defender Jordy Makengo and going behind for a corner in the 85th minute.
Muci then sent a powerful long-range strike over the crossbar four minutes later.
Trabzonspor had one final opportunity in second-half stoppage time when Salah collected a headed pass from Chibuike Nwaiwu, but Backhaus denied the Egyptian winger in the 90+2nd minute.
Freiburg held on for the 1-0 victory to move to six points after three Conference League matches, level with Trabzonspor.
