Shocking start, comeback and final joke. The first leg of the Conference League playoff between Fiorentina and Puskas Akademia ends 3-3.
The initial choices
Mister Palladino lines up De Gea from the first minute in goal, a three-man defense composed of Martinez Quarta, Pongracic and Ranieri. Bianco and Mandragora in the middle of the field, Kayode and Parisi on the wings. Colpani and Sottil in attack to support Beltran.
Shocking start for Fiorentina, Sottil reopens the game in first-half injury time.
Palladino’s team starts their European campaign in the worst possible way. After 12 minutes of play, Puskas Akademia scores twice, first with a penalty won and converted by Nagy, then with a goal by Soisalo: on both occasions, clear errors by the young Kayode. Fiorentina feels the blow and is unable to react, with Palladino’s team waking up at the half hour mark with Beltran who almost scores on the turn. The greatest opportunity for the lilies comes at the end of the first half with a great conclusion by Bianco from the edge that hits the top corner. In the final minutes, Sottil reopens the game with a nice right-footed shot in the area, but Pecsi can do nothing.
Fiorentina turns everything around in the second half
Palladino leaves a disappointing Kayode and Beltran in the locker room and sends Dodo and Kean onto the pitch. A winning move, with the Brazilian starting to break through on the wing, while the former Juventus player’s physique makes the difference in the opponent’s area. Fiorentina returns to the pitch with more determination and begins to put their opponents on the ropes. After an hour of play, Ikoné wastes a great opportunity, kicking out instead of serving Kean all alone in front of the goal. A few minutes pass and Fiorentina finds the equaliser: corner kicked by Mandragora, Quarta without jumping sends the equaliser into the net. 10 minutes pass and Fiorentina completes the comeback with Kean: ball recovered after a mistake by Stronati, through ball for the former Juventus player who arrives in the penalty area and crosses without giving Pecsi any chance.
Bitter ending, Puskas Akademia finds the equaliser
Fiorentina has the victory in their hands after a terrible match, but in the end comes the joke. The Hungarians find the equalizer in the end with a header by Golla on the developments of a corner. In a week, another Fiorentina in Hungary will be needed to pass the preliminary round.