Fiorentina will face the winner of the tie between Olympiakos Piraeus and Aston Villa in the final on 29 May in Athens. The Greek team will enter Thursday’s home rematch with a 4:2 lead.
The leader of the Belgian league entered the match more actively and in the 20th minute he was sent into the lead by captain Vanaken, the team’s top scorer with six hits in the competition. In the end, his shot from the onrushing De Cuyper didn’t even hit the ball and the ball still went into the net.
Fiorentina gradually took over the reins of the match, but they were unable to capitalize on their advantage. Shortly after conceding the goal, González went alone to the goal, but Mignolet caught him. Kouamé came even closer to equalizing in the 35th minute, whose half-volley bounced off the crossbar onto the line and back into the game.
Photo: Omar Havana, CTK/AP
Fiorentina footballers will play the final of the Conference League
The “Violets” were unlucky even a quarter of an hour before the end, when Biraghi hit the crossbar from a free kick and Kouamé hit the bar again, this time with a header. However, the home side did not stop the pressure. In the 82nd minute, Mechele hit Nzola with a high foot in the box and Beltrán converted the penalty kick, although Mignolet caught the shot.
Vanaken had a chance to send the match to overtime at the end of the set-up, but goalkeeper Terracciano pulled his shot against the post with a great save. Bruges thus missed their third final participation in European cups, the last time they played for the trophy was in the European Champions Cup in the 1977/78 season. Fiorentina will be aiming for a second triumph in UEFA competitions, having won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961.
Rematch of the semi-finals of the European Conference League: Club Brugge – Fiorentina 1:1 (1:0) Goals: 20. Vanaken – 85. Beltrán from pen. Referee: Meler – Eyisoy, Ersoy (all Tur.) – Fritz (video, German). ŽK: Ordónez, Thiago, Vetlesen, Mechele – Milenkovič, Beltrán, Dodo, Nzola, Italiano (coach). CK: 90.+4 Odoi (Bruges, off the field). First match 2:3, Fiorentina advanced. Bruges: Mignolet – Odoi (86. Nusa), Mechele, Ordóňez – Sabbe, Vetlesen (70. Zinckernagel), Vanaken, De Cuyper – Skóraš (86. Nielsen), Jutglá – Thiago. Coach: Hayen. Fiorentina: Terracciano – Dodo, Milenkovic, Martínez Quarta, Biraghi – Beltrán (90. Ranieri), Arthur (70. Duncan), Mandragora – González, Belotti (70. Nzola), Kouamé. Coach: Italiano.
2024-05-08 18:52:07
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