Despair at Papara Park: Salah misses the equaliser as Trabzon lose

Trabzonspor fell to defeat at home against Freiburg in the third round of the league phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League at the Papara Park stadium.

The Germans struck early. Lukas Kübler tapped in from inside the area on 14 minutes after goalkeeper Onana made an unconvincing save.

Trabzonspor chased the game throughout. Their most dangerous moment fell to Egyptian Mohamed Salah, who controlled a cross on his chest and fired over the bar. He also curled a free kick into the wall, and his movement and passing offered flashes of real quality.

Trabzonspor's players claimed a penalty when Nigerian striker Onuachu was shoved inside the area, but the referee waved play on.

After the break, Trabzonspor pumped high balls towards Onuachu and their advancing defenders in search of an equaliser, but nothing came of it. Freiburg, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter and from set pieces, going close to a second on more than one occasion.

Salah then spurned the chance of the night. On 60 minutes a corner dropped to him right on the goal line, in front of an empty net, yet he somehow steered it straight into the arms of the Freiburg keeper. The stands groaned as the equaliser slipped away.

Defeat did not cost Trabzonspor their place among the direct qualifiers for the last 16. They sit eighth on 6 points from 3 matches, level with Freiburg, who also moved to 6, and behind leaders Monaco only on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Atalanta were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Kazakh side Kairat Almaty. Mark Gual put the visitors ahead on 53 minutes before Nikola Krstovic rescued a point for Atalanta with a late strike on 82.

Red Star Belgrade turned it around to beat Inter d'Escaldes 2-1 in a match that produced a red card for each side.

Arellano had given the visitors the lead before Vladimir Lucic levelled for Red Star. Yuta Nakayama then snatched the winner in added time.

Ajax, meanwhile, thrashed hosts Midtjylland 6-1 in Denmark. Nigerian Tolulope Arokodare opened the scoring early and grabbed a second, before Owen Wijndal, Davy Klaassen, Oscar Gloukh and Marcos Leonardo piled on the misery. Franculino Dju scored Midtjylland's only consolation.