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Champions League: Zhegovra's injury-time strike gives Les Dogues first-leg lead over Fenerbahce

Valenciennes' Stade de Hainaut would play the host venue as LOSC Lille welcomed Turkish giants Fenerbahce to the North of France, in the first of two ties deciding who will reach the Champions League this season. Bruno Génésio would line-up with back five, giving new recruit Thomas Meunier his first competitive start for Les Dogues alongside Bafodé Diakité and Alexsandro. It was an effective start for Lille against José Mourinho's side, as Génésio's men held the ball and much of the control of the opening period.
George Boxall
Published on 08/06/2024 at 20:39
2-minute read
Edon Zhegovra would strike late in added-on time to hand Lille an all-important one goal lead in a crucial Champions League qualifier clash against Fenerbahce

By the 10th minute Lille would settle down into a pattern of possession, trying to find the opening chance - and it would come the way of Portuguese winger Tiago Santos, who beat his man before squeezing the ball home from the byline off goalkeeper Livakovic (12'). The next huge chance for Lille would then come to their Mr reliable Jonathan David just before the half-time break, but the Canada international's volley at the back post would blast way over the bar - he should have really scored.

Another huge chance would come as the second half just got underway. This time it was for the away side's new recruit, former Ligue 1 man Allan Saint-Maximin, who dribbled into a great position in the box to take a strike - but his overcomplicated run past LOSC keeper Lucas Chevalier could only see his shot dragged wide of what was temporarily an open net.

Haraldsson would get the next chance, as Tiago Santos delivered a perfect ball into the Iceland international, but his diving header would fall straight into the arms of Livakovic. But Fernabahce would grow into the game, and some high pressing paid dividends for the away side. With a freekick on the edge of the box, İrfan Kahveci would curl a beautiful strike past Chevalier to equalise for the Turkish giants (79').

It looked as if Mourinho's side would come away with a classic hit and run point-grab. But Edon Zhegovra had other ideas. After coming in the second half, the Albanian international was looking dangerous with his weaving runs and power up front. He would break through in the first minute of injury time and his deflected shot tricked Livakovic and gave Les Dogues the lead right at the death. The final whistle would blow, and Lille celebrated the late victory which gave them a 2-1 lead going into the second leg in Istanbul. 

THE STAT

Bruno Génésio has become the first French coach to have won against Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho in official competition. 

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