Fenerbahçe held their nerve to turn a two-goal first-half surge into Champions League League Phase qualification, beating Lyon 2-1 at Groupama Stadium. The Lyon Fenerbahçe tie had been level at 1-1 after the first leg, but the visitors found the decisive edge in Lyon.
Fenerbahçe punish Lyon with a ruthless first-half burst
Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring in the 24th minute before A. Brown doubled Fenerbahçe’s lead four minutes later. Those goals transformed the play-off, leaving Lyon with a 2-0 deficit at half-time and a huge task after the sides had drawn their previous two meetings.
The away side did not need control of the ball to control the scoreline. Lyon had 59% possession and produced 17 attempts, but Fenerbahçe matched their pressure with seven shots on target, one more than the hosts’ six.
Malick Fofana drives Lyon’s second-half response
Malick Fofana gave Lyon a route back when he scored in the 61st minute. The hosts pushed for the equaliser, with Fofana forcing a save in the 71st minute, while a potential goal was overturned after a VAR review in the 76th.
