Trabzonspor vs Hearts: Salah and Franculino decide a 2-0 win

Trabzonspor had the front-line quality and Heart Of Midlothian had the injury problems, and the balance showed at Papara Park. Mohamed Salah converted a penalty in the 32nd minute, Franculino Djú finished the job after the break, and the Turkish side won 2-0. There was a brief dispute over whether the spot-kick came in the 30th or 32nd minute, but the match records settle on 32.

Salah and Franculino carried the attacking side

Salah was directly involved in both goals, which is exactly why this felt like a match decided by the names in attack rather than by control in midfield. He scored from the spot, then laid on the pass for Franculino's finish in the 58th minute. His 7.9 rating reflected that impact, while Franculino's 9 marked him out as the match's top performer.

Hearts were already stretched before kick-off

Hearts' night was made harder before the game even settled. Harry Milne looked to have done his ACL in training before kick-off, Christian Borchgrevink then limped off with a hamstring issue before the interval, and Wouter Vrancken was left counting the cost of more injuries after the defeat. The reshuffle was severe enough that Hearts went into the match without a recognised left-back and only one fit central midfielder.

Beau Reus still made three saves, so the scoreline did not run away, but Trabzonspor still looked the stronger side throughout. The late red card for Sidny Lopes Cabral, after a second yellow in stoppage time, was a messy end to the evening. Trabzonspor now have two Conference League wins and sit fourth in the league phase on three points, with the result putting them in a strong early position rather than anything more decisive.