Fenerbahce Knocked Out of Champions League by Lille

ISTANBUL (AP) — Jose Mourinho's ambitions to guide Fenerbahce into the newly structured Champions League came to an abrupt end on Tuesday as the Turkish side was eliminated by Lille in the third qualifying round. The aggregate score concluded at 3-2 in favor of Lille, who secured their advancement with a dramatic penalty conversion by Jonathan David in the 118th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw after extra time in the second leg. Fenerbahce initially took the lead in the second leg held in Istanbul, thanks to an own goal from Lille's Bafode Diakite, which occurred in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. This goal allowed Fenerbahce to level the tie on aggregate and push the match into extra time. However, Lille had previously won the first leg 2-1, leaving Fenerbahce with a challenging uphill battle. Mourinho, who joined Fenerbahce in June with a lucrative annual salary of $11 million, was brought in with the goal of clinching the club's first Turkish league title since 2014. His experience in European competitions, including two Champions League victories with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, raised expectations for the Turkish team. The defeat marks a significant setback for Mourinho and Fenerbahce, as they now shift their focus to domestic competitions, hoping to reclaim their status in Turkish football under the renowned coach's leadership.