Lille beats Wolfsburg 3-1 to advance in Champions League

Updated Dec. 8, 2021 5:05 p.m. ET

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Lille qualified for the Champions League last 16 for the first time in 15 years as the French champion beat Wolfsburg 3-1 on Wednesday to win its group.

Either team would have qualified with a win in a tight Group G, and it was Lille which seized the opportunity.

Veteran striker Burak Yilmaz gave Lille the lead after Jonathan Ikoné charged down the right flank on a quick break and crossed low for the Turkish striker arriving on the edge of the penalty area to finish.

Wolfsburg posed little threat except with set pieces and a penalty shout just before halftime for handball which was rejected by video review.

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Still, the German team stayed in the contest until the 72nd minute, when Canadian forward Jonathan David doubled Lille's lead with a shot in off the post. It came from a pass by Angel Gomes, who scored Lille's third soon after.

Swiss winger Renato Steffen responded with a shot into the top corner in the 89th minute, but it was too late for a comeback.

Lille has only qualified from the group stage once before, when it lost to Manchester United in the round of 16 in 2006-07. Wolfsburg finished last and was eliminated.

Salzburg qualified from second place in Group G after beating Sevilla 1-0 in the other game.

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