Ten-man Linfield exited the UEFA Champions League after falling to a single goal scored late in the second half of their clash with Legia Warsaw.
What proved to be the only goal of the game came on 82 minutes via substitute José Kanté. The Guinean international fired into the bottom corner from 25 yards out to give the Polish champions a narrow victory.
The Blues had been reduced to ten men just seven minutes earlier when Kirk Millar was booked for a late challenge, his second caution of the game.
Up until that point Linfield had held their own against their hosts, soaking up the early pressure and crafting a few openings of their own.
Indeed, even after falling behind, David Healy's side came within a whisker of forcing extra-time when Christy Manzinga cut in from the left before sending a right-foot effort past keeper Artur Boruc only to see it came back off the far post.
The Blues now drop into the Europa League Second Qualifying Round, the draw for which will be made later this month.
Legia Warsaw: Boruc, Wieteska, Antolić, Gvilia, Pekhart, Karbownik, Wszołek, Mladenović, Jędrzejczyk, Luquinhas, Slisz subs Cierzniak (not used), Hołownia (not used), Lewczuk (not used), Luis Rocha (not used), Kanté (replaced Pekhart 70), André Martins (not used), Rosołek (replaced Slisz 46)
Linfield: Johns, Stafford, Larkin, Millar, Lavery, Clarke, Fallon, Héry, Mulgrew, Boyle, Quinn subs Moore (not used), Manzinga (replaced Lavery 76), Nasseri (replaced Quinn 84), Kearns (not used), McClean (not used), Pepper (replaced Héry 79), Hume (not used)
