Union Saint-Gilloise failed to secure an advantage in their first match of the Conference League’s round of 16, losing 0-3 to Fenerbahce at RSC Anderlecht’s Lotto Park on Thursday evening.
Union started fiercely but were caught off guard midway through the first half. Michy Batshuayi, the Red Devil and Brussels native, opened the scoring in the 20th minute after tapping in a rebound.
The Jupiler Pro League leaders unsuccessfully sought an equaliser in the second half. Chances from Alessio Castro-Montes and Cameron Puertas came close, but Union were not able to find the net.
Fenerbahce Jayden Oosterwolde and Dusan Tadic subsequently extinguished Union’s hopes completely, scoring the second and third goals in the 84th minute and in injury time respectively; Fenerbahce's third came from a penalty due to Christian Burgess’s handball, who lost his cool with the referee.
The return leg in Istanbul will be next Thursday at 18:45.
