Fenerbahce made a strong start in the UEFA Europa League by securing a thrilling 2-1 home victory against Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday. Both sides finished the match with 10 men, adding intensity to the already fierce competition.
Defender Caglar Soyuncu opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's side in the 26th minute with a spectacular half-volley from close range. The lead was doubled in the 82nd minute when Union's own goal, courtesy of Christian Burgess, gave Fenerbahce a comfortable 2-0 advantage. However, Union's Ross Sykes pulled one back in stoppage time, making the final score 2-1.
Discipline played a significant role, with Union's defender Kevin Mac Allister receiving a red card in the 74th minute. Fenerbahce's substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel was also sent off in the final minute, keeping the game intensely competitive despite both teams playing with fewer players.
Last season saw Fenerbahce eliminate Union in the round of 16 of the third-tier Conference League, marking this year's encounter as a highly anticipated rematch. Under the seasoned leadership of Jose Mourinho, Fenerbahce looks to replicate his previous European successes, including leading Manchester United to the 2017 Europa League title.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur celebrated their return to European competition with a 3-0 home win over Qarabag, overcoming an early red card to secure the victory. Spurs' manager Ange Postecoglou praised the team's resilience, stating, \"We wanted to press high, even with ten men.\"
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Fenerbahce begin Europa League with home win over Union Saint-Gilloise
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