‘We were happy that Onuachu came in to help’ - Trabzonspor manager hails Super Eagles star for playing as a defender

The Turkish side secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Göztepe on Sunday in the Super Lig, as they continue chasing the title.

In a dramatic Süper Lig encounter that saw three goals and two red cards, Onuachu was forced into an unfamiliar role as a makeshift centre-back. 

The towering forward dropped deep to help his side protect their lead after being reduced to 10 men late in the game.

Reflecting on the team's performance, former Watford player Tufan highlighted the striker's selflessness as a key factor in the win.

"We fought very well, even when we were down to 10 men," Tufan told BeinSports. "We were happy that Onuachu came in to help in defence and that our other teammates saw this and contributed. I think we’ve established a very good atmosphere as a city and a team."

Trabzonspor had taken control of the match thanks to a brace from Ernest Muçi, who found the net in the 46th and 76th minutes. 

However, Göztepe set up a tense finale when Nigerian midfielder Anthony Dennis scored in the 85th minute, giving the home side hope of a late comeback.

Following Pina's dismissal, Onuachu's defensive discipline proved instrumental in weathering the storm of Göztepe's late attacks. 

Despite being a man down, Trabzonspor held on for a victory that propelled them to second place in the Süper Lig table, just two points behind leaders Galatasaray.