Club Brugge 1-1 Fiorentina (agg: 3-4): Beltrán penalty takes Viola through
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Article summary
Lucas Beltrán's late penalty sent the Viola to their second Europa Conference League final in as many seasons, Club Brugge unable to build on Hans Vanaken's opener in Belgium.
Article top media content
Article body
Fiorentina made it to their second successive UEFA Europa Conference League final after Lucas Beltrán's late penalty restored their aggregate lead against Club Brugge, and sent the Viola to the decider at the AEK Arena in Athens on Wednesday 29 May.
Key moments
20': Vanaken ball creeps into the net to level aggregate score
35': Kouamé smashes an effort against the frame of the goal
74': Biraghi glances the crossbar with a free-kick
75': Kouamé heads against the post
85': Beltrán penalty restores Fiorentina's advantage
90+3': Terracciano makes a superb save to deny Vanaken
Match in brief: Fiorentina pressure pays in Belgium
Going into the game a goal behind, Club Brugge started with intent and were rewarded with a goal in the 20th minute, Hans Vanaken's long, searching ball going all the way through to level the tie on aggregate.
The visitors responded with waves of attacks. Beltrán shot narrowly wide of target almost immediately after his side conceded and Fiorentina went on to hit the woodwork three times – twice through Christian Kouamé and once from a Cristiano Biraghi free-kick.
However, with five minutes of normal time remaining, and the game heading for extra time, the Viola were awarded a penalty and Beltrán stepped up to fire low past Simon Mignolet.
Vanaken went agonisingly close to bringing the hosts back into the game, forcing Filippo Terracciano to make a fine save in added time. However, Fiorentina now have the chance to seek redemption for last year's loss to West Ham in the final of this competition.
Brecht Schelstraete, match reporter
Intense: that is the best way to describe this match. Club Brugge showed their hunger and were rewarded with a goal in the first half, but Fiorentina dictated play from then onwards and hit the woodwork three times. Club Brugge were hemmed inside their own half for much of the second half, but looked to have weathered the storm until Beltrán scored from the spot. A second final in as many years for Vincenzo Italiano's side, while Club Brugge have still not reached a European decider since 1978.
Reaction
Vincenzo Italiano, Fiorentina coach: "This is wonderful, sensational. For the second consecutive year we are in the final. We played an amazing game, a second half of great quality. We hit the woodwork three times, had many chances. The team showed personality against a team of great quality. We are going to the final and we are happy. We will enjoy this moment."
Nicky Hayen, Club Brugge coach: "We started with a lot of energy and intensity. We played a good first half and we deserved that lead at half-time. Unfortunately we could not keep at that level in the second half. When we see the game we played, how we brought intensity, we can be proud of the performance."
Alfred Duncan, Fiorentina midfielder: "For us it is a special feeling, reaching the final for the second time. The way we played, from the group stage to today, has been amazing. We are very happy. We were born for games like this."
Key stats
- Fiorentina will be the first team to compete in two Europa Conference League finals
- The Italian side are unbeaten in their last 13 European matches (W7 D6), their longest run. Including qualifying, they have won their last nine two-legged Europa Conference League ties.
- The Viola have only failed to score in two of their last 27 UEFA competition matches.
- Club Brugge have not reached a UEFA competition final since the European Cup final in 1978.
- The Belgian side are the top scorers in men's UEFA club competitions this season with 42 goals, including qualifying.
- Club Brugge are now without a win in 13 matches against Italian teams (D5 L8).
Line-ups
Club Brugge: Mignolet; Odoi (Nusa, 86), Mechele, Ordoñez; Sabbe, Vetlesen (Zinckernagel, 70), Vanaken, De Cuyper; Skóraś (Nielsen, 86), Thiago, Jutglà
Fiorentina: Terracciano; Dodô, Milenkoviċ, Martínez Quarta, Biraghi; Beltrán (Ranieri, 90), Arthur (Alfred Duncan, 70), Mandragora; González, Belotti (Nzola, 70), Kouamé
Destination: Athens
Fiorentina are the nominal away team as they take on Olympiacos in the final in Athens on 29 May.