It was a bittersweet evening for Bright Osayi-Samuel as Fenerbahce secured a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in their Europa League opener.
The Nigeria defender, who was making a return to action following his injury, got sent off late in the match after receiving two yellow cards.
The game started positively for Fenerbahce, with Çağlar Söyüncü giving the Turkish giants an early lead in the 26th minute following a Rodrigo Becão assist from a corner.
An own goal by Union Saint-Gilloise’s Christian Burgess in the 83rd minute then appeared to secure all three points for Fenerbahce.
Osayi-Samuel's forgettable cameo
Super Eagles wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, who had come on as a substitute in the 65th minute, played a lively role, forcing a save from the opposition goalkeeper just minutes before Burgess’s own goal.
However, his night quickly soured when he was booked for time-wasting in the 87th minute. Moments later, Osayi-Samuel conceded a penalty after a clumsy challenge inside the box, leading to his second yellow card and a sending-off.
Union Saint-Gilloise failed to convert the penalty, with Franjo Ivanovic’s attempt being saved, but the Belgian side managed to pull a goal back in stoppage time through Ross Sykes, making it a nervy finish for the hosts. Despite the red card and late drama, Fenerbahce held on for the victory, taking all three points in their first European game of the season.
For Osayi-Samuel, it was a night to forget, marked by defensive struggles and a costly foul in the dying minutes.
His stats for the match included just 25 minutes played, one shot on target, three ground duels (with one won), and a passing accuracy of 50%. However, his late sending-off will be the headline from this performance