Ferencváros left Turkey with a precious away win on Thursday night, beating Trabzonspor 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off, with Israeli international Gabi Kanichowsky introduced from the bench to help see the result home.
The only goal came in the 17th minute. Olivér Nagy swung a cross into the box and Kristoffer Zachariassen rose above the Trabzonspor defence to head past goalkeeper André Onana, giving the Hungarian champions the lead they would not surrender.
Kanichowsky, an Israel international who joined Ferencváros from Maccabi Tel Aviv last year, was sent on in the 61st minute in place of Philippe Rommens. He was on the pitch for the final half hour plus stoppage time — roughly 29 minutes, as reported by ONE — as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
The midfielder picked up a yellow card late on for remonstrating with the referee, which leaves him one caution away from a suspension in the competition. He otherwise helped Ferencváros manage the closing stages as Trabzonspor, with Mohamed Salah and Paul Onuachu leading the home attack, searched for a way back into the tie.
Trabzonspor's best chance of the night fell to Onuachu, whose header from close range came back off the crossbar, but the Turkish side could not find a breakthrough against a well-organised Ferencváros defence marshalled by goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz.
The result gives the Hungarian side a favourable platform heading into next week's return leg at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on 27 August, with a place in this season's Europa League league phase at stake. The loser of the tie drops into the Conference League.
It is the latest step in an eventful first year in Hungary for Kanichowsky, who has featured for Ferencváros in continental competition throughout the summer, including a start in the previous qualifying round against Górnik Zabrze, and remains a regular fixture in Robbie Keane's Ferencváros squad as well as the Israel national team setup.
