Mohamed Salah scored and provided an assist as Trabzonspor beat Finland’s KuPS 4-2 on artificial turf in their Conference League opener.
The Egypt captain helped secure three points at Tammela Stadium in Tampere, less than three weeks after missing an international qualifier over concerns about an artificial pitch.
Salah also took the Trabzonspor captain’s armband after Paul Onuachu went off injured early in the match, before making way for Noah Saviolo in the 55th minute.
Trabzonspor needed only three minutes to break through. Salah slipped a pass behind the defence for Onuachu, who finished past goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl.
Onuachu’s evening ended shortly afterwards through injury, with Franculino Djú replacing the Nigerian striker.
Salah doubled the lead in the 44th minute, collecting the loose ball after Aral Şimşir’s effort came back off a defender and firing into the top corner.
The goal was Salah’s first in the UEFA Conference League, adding to his scoring record in the Champions League and Europa League.
Franculino made it 3-0 in the 47th minute before Petteri Pennanen pulled one back seven minutes later. André Onana then saved Piotr Parzyszek’s penalty to protect Trabzonspor’s two-goal advantage.
Franculino scored again in the first minute of stoppage time. Gustav Engvall replied five minutes later, but KuPS could not prevent an opening defeat.
Salah’s participation followed questions over whether he would play on Tammela’s synthetic surface.
On September 26, the Egyptian Football Association had announced that Hossam Hassan’s staff rested Salah from the September 29 qualifier against South Sudan because of Juba Stadium’s playing surface.
The federation said the coaching staff and Salah had agreed on the decision before Egypt’s preceding match against Angola, with the aim of protecting the player.
Egypt went on to beat South Sudan 5-0 without their captain.
Trabzonspor will host Hearts in their next match in the UEFA Conference League on October 22.