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Fenerbahce qualifies for Champions League league phase, beating Lyon 2-1

27 August 2026 00:58 (UTC +04:00)

Fenerbahce advanced to the Champions League league phase on Wednesday, holding off a second-half fightback from Lyon to win the playoff-round tie 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Groupama Stadium, APA reports citing Türkiye Today.

Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown scored either side of a first-half spell that put the Turkish side firmly in control, before Malick Fofana pulled a goal back for Lyon early in the second half.

The French club continued pressing for an equalizer that would have forced extra time, but had two goals ruled out by the video assistant referee inside a 10-minute span.

Fast start puts Fenerbahce in command

Muriqi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, converting from the center of the box after being teed up by Oguz Aydin.

Four minutes later, Brown doubled the advantage, giving Fenerbahce a two-goal cushion heading into the break.

Lyon created some openings of its own in the first half, including headers from Loïs Openda and a blocked effort from Corentin Tolisso, but could not find a way past goalkeeper Ederson.

The tie had been level after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Istanbul, and Fenerbahce turned that even footing into a commanding lead by halftime, with the score 0-2 at the interval.

Lyon responds but cannot complete the comeback

Lyon came out for the second half looking to close the gap and got its reward in the 61st minute, when Fofana curled a left-footed finish into the bottom right corner after being set up by substitute Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The goal, following a double substitution that brought on Maitland-Niles and Kaïl Boudache, injected fresh urgency into the home side's attack.

Lyon pushed for an equalizer over the next 10 minutes and twice found the net again, only to see both efforts wiped out by VAR review.

Openda had a goal disallowed in the 64th minute for offside, and Boudache's effort in the 71st minute was also overturned following a video review.

Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ederson also made a save on a Fofana shot from outside the box shortly after the disallowed goals.