Trabzonspor added another disappointing result to their recent run of dropped points, drawing 1-1 with Göztepe at Papara Park in the Trendyol Süper Lig. The Black Sea Storm, who conceded a goal in the first half, managed to find an equalizer in injury time to salvage a point from the match. This result follows a 2-1 defeat to TÜMOSAN Konyaspor in their previous away fixture.

Head coach Fatih Tekke made four changes to the starting lineup from the Konyaspor game. He opted to bench Lovik, Nwakaeme, Zubkov, and Oulai, bringing in Bouchouari, Ozan Tufan, Salih Malkoçoğlu, and Augusto to start against Göztepe, aiming to refresh the squad and find a winning formula.

The team faced significant challenges due to a lengthy injury list, with key players such as Savic, Batagov, Okay Yokuşlu, Taha Emre İnce, and Visca all unavailable for selection. These absences meant Trabzonspor's match squad consisted of only 19 players, highlighting the depth issues the club is currently experiencing.

Amidst the injury crisis, young defender Salih Malkoçoğlu made his first start for Trabzonspor at center-back. With Savic and Batagov sidelined, and Lovik having been tried in the previous week, Fatih Tekke entrusted the academy product with a crucial role in the starting eleven, marking a significant milestone for the young player.

Fan interest at Papara Park was notably low, with visible empty seats in the stands. In contrast, Göztepe supporters filled a large portion of the away section, providing strong backing for their team in Trabzon. Despite the on-field tension, both sets of fans displayed gestures of friendship before and after the match. Göztepe took the lead in the 32nd minute through Juan, and Trabzonspor's Mustafa Eskihellaç was controversially sent off with a second yellow card in the 42nd minute, a decision widely questioned for its severity.

The second half saw more drama, including Benjamin needing medical attention after a hard foul. Trabzonspor thought they had equalized in the 87th minute when Onuachu found the net, but the referee controversially disallowed the goal for a foul, despite a similar incident involving Salih in Trabzonspor's box not being penalized earlier.

However, Trabzonspor's persistence paid off in the dying moments. After Augusto was replaced by Umut Nayir in the 84th minute, it was Nayir who became the hero, scoring a crucial equalizer in the 90+2nd minute to secure a 1-1 draw for the home side, preventing another defeat in their challenging run.