The Canary did not allow for surprises! Fenerbahçe defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.

Fenerbahçe faced the Belgian team Union Saint-Gilloise at home in the first week of the UEFA Europa League. The yellow-blues defeated their opponent 2-1 in a match where both teams ended up with 10 players, starting the league stage of the tournament with 3 points.

MOURINHO SET A RECORD

Meanwhile, the Canaries' head coach Jose Mourinho also made history with this match. The Portuguese coach set a record by competing with 9 different teams in the group stage of European cups in the 21st century, starting with the Union Saint-Gilloise match.

CENGİZ AND AMBRABAT IN THE STARTING XI FOR THE FIRST TIME

In Fenerbahçe, Cengiz Ünder was assigned to the starting XI for the first time this season in the yellow-blue jersey. He was discussed for transfer at the beginning of the season but was retained by Mourinho. Cengiz had come on as a substitute in 2 league matches. Additionally, the new transfer Sofyan Amrabat also had the chance to start for the first time this season. The experienced midfielder, who joined the squad in the final part of the transfer period, had come on as a substitute in the matches against Kasımpaşa and Galatasaray.

ÇAĞLAR OPENED THE SCORING

Fenerbahçe found the goal in the 26th minute with Çağlar Söyüncü. After a corner kick taken with a pass, Çağlar managed to send the ball into the net from a cross by Rodrigo Becao, putting his team ahead 1-0. The national star dedicated this goal to his pregnant wife.

UNION SG WAS LEFT WITH 10 PLAYERS

In the visiting team, Kevin Mac Allister received a direct red card in the 73rd minute after committing a foul outside the penalty area on Fenerbahçe's En-Nesyri, who was about to face the goalkeeper. Union Saint-Gilloise played the last part of the match with one player less.

THEY SCORED AN OWN GOAL

The goal that relieved Fenerbahçe came in the 81st minute. Osayi-Samuel's shot from the right diagonal was saved by goalkeeper Anthony Moris after a pass from Dusan Tadic. The ball rebounded off Moris and hit Christan Burgess, going into the net, making the score 2-0.

OSAYI-SAMUEL WAS SENT OFF IN 3 MINUTES

Osayi-Samuel, who came on for Mert Müldür in the 65th minute, received a yellow card in the 87th minute and was sent off with a second yellow card for causing a penalty in the 90th minute.

LIVAKOVIC SAVED THE PENALTY

In the penalty caused by Osayi-Samuel, Fenerbahçe's Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic did not allow a goal. Livakovic guessed the corner as Franjo Ivanovic shot to his right and managed to save the ball.

NEXT OPPONENT

After defeating the Belgian representative Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 in the first week of the UEFA Europa League, starting the league stage of the tournament with 3 points, the yellow-blues will face the Dutch team Twente in the second week. This match will be played on October 3rd, Thursday at 22:00 Turkish time. Union Saint-Gilloise will host Bodo/Glimt on the same day.