Few might have expected this matchday six fixture to mean more for Lincoln than their distinguished opponents, but - unlike Legia - they found themselves in with a chance of miraculously making the top 24.
But their recent European form away from the artificial turf of the Europa Point Stadium had been worrying to say the least, and they were lucky not to be behind inside two minutes when Kacper Urbanski punted just past the post from close range.
Playing for pride, the hosts kept the pressure on, and were rewarded when Antonio Colak took on Bartosz Kapustka’s knock-down and fired in off the post from the edge of the area. The Croatian’s first goal for the club spurred his side on to further chances, and Jaylan Hankins pulled off a pair of fine saves to keep out Kamil Piatkowski and Marco Burch.
Hankins then flapped his arms in the way of Damian Szymański’s point-blank range effort, before keeping out Urbański at the near post to ring in the break with the deficit at just one.
The HT scores elsewhere had Lincoln still heading through, but things quickly changed as the second half got underway. Knowing that an equalizer was essential, the visitors started to take more risks, but that left them exposed, and Bartosz Kapustka made it two after racing onto Urbanski’s ball and burying it past Hankins from an angle.
Seeing an opportunity to boost their overall confidence, Legia pushed forward, and substitute Mileta Rajovic nodded in from Jakub Zewlakow’s delivery.
Lincoln’s hopes now rested entirely on results elsewhere, especially after Vahan Bichakhchyan made things even worse by turning in a deflected cross at the far post with an improvised finish.
There was a slim consolation for Lincoln when Tjay De Barr whipped inside the far post from outside the area, but draws for KuPS and Zrinjski Mostar saw them ultimately bow out of the league phase.
Legia knew that would be their fate from the start of tonight, but they will hope that they can build on their first win in 12 competitive matches to improve their situation in the league, where they currently sit in the bottom two.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bartosz Kapustka (Legia Warsaw)