Fiorentina to Conference League final thanks to a late equalizer in Bruges

NOS Football•today, 8:47 PM

Fiorentina has qualified for the Conference League final for the second year in a row. A 1-1 draw at Club Brugge was enough after the 3-2 win in the home match last week.

Tomorrow Olympiakos and Aston Villa will decide who will be the other finalist on May 29 in Athens. Last year Fiorentina lost the final match to West Ham United (2-1).

Normally matches in the Conference League are played on Thursday, but because the Holy Blood Procession will pass through Bruges tomorrow, the match was already played tonight.

Club Brugge had to do without Dutch left back Bjorn Meijer tonight. He suffered a serious knee injury last weekend. Without him, the Belgians did take the lead in the twentieth minute. Maxim de Cuyper grazed the ball with his head after a cross from Hans Vanaken.

In the phase before the break, Fiorentina became increasingly stronger and Club Brugge got away well a few times. For example, a bet from Fiorentina striker Christian Kouamé ended up on the crossbar.

In the second half, Fiorentina had the upper hand and Vincenzo Italiano’s team had the greatest opportunities. The Italians hit the bar again.

The equalizer came in the 85th minute. Lucas Beltrán took advantage of a penalty that was given because Bruges defender Brandon Mechele raised his leg too much, according to the referee.

Brugge had a great chance in injury time through Vanaken, but Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano managed to clear the ball from the goal.

And so Club Brugge once again failed to reach the final of a European tournament. The last time was 46 years ago when the club lost the European Cup I final to Liverpool (0-1).