Fenerbahce begin Europa League with home win over Union Saint-Gilloise

Fenerbahce opened the competition at the UEFA Europa League with a 2-1 home win over Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday with both teams finishing the game with 10 men.

Defender Caglar Soyuncu opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's team in the 26th minute with a half-volley from close range before Christian Burgess' own goal in the 82nd made it 2-0 for Fenerbahce. Ross Sykes scored in stoppage time for the visitors.

Union defender Kevin Mac Allister received a red card in the 74th as well as Fenerbahce substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel was sent off in the final minute.

Last season, Fenerbahce eliminated Union in the round of 16 of the third-tier Conference League.

Europe's second tier is a familiar turf for Mourinho, who led Manchester United to the 2017 title. He took the Fenerbahce job in the off season.

Mourinho's former employer Roma settled for a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao after a late goal following the Italian club's recent turbulent stretch that included the firing of coach Daniele De Rossi.

Aitor Paredes headed in the equalizer in the 85th minute to offset Artem Dovbyk's first-half goal.

Tottenham Hotspur marked their return to European competition after a one-year absence by overcoming an early red card to beat Qarabag 3-0 at home.

Defender Radu Dragusin was sent off in the eighth minute for bringing down Juninho to prevent the forward from going in alone on goal, but the hosts opened the scoring just four minutes later.

Brennan Johnson's angled shot was his third goal in three games. Pape Sarr doubled the advantage early in the second half off a corner kick and Dominic Solanke finished it off on a rebound in the 68th.

"The red card was not ideal, we started really sloppily but the reaction afterwards was good," Spurs' manager Ange Postecoglou told TNT Sports. "We wanted to press high, even with ten men."