A crazy Fiorentina wins the Conference League semi-final first leg against Club Brugge 3-2.
Sottil and Belotti, 2-1 Fiorentina at half-time. A surprise above all in the initial formations, Italiano opts for a hyper-offensive Fiorentina immediately in terms of attitude and this can be seen from the midfield made up of Arthur and Bonaventura. Brugge began the evening’s shots already in minute one with Igor Thiago inaccurate from the edge, but in the 7th minute Fiorentina immediately reaped the benefits of their aggressive interpretation and found the 1-0 goal with a splendid solo from Sottil, who strikes Jackers at the far post from the left corner. Ten minutes and the Belgians equalize: following a daring move, Thiago finds himself face to face with Terracciano, but it’s on the rebound that the big game happens. The ball goes into Biraghi’s hand and if initially the English referee Michael Oliver hadn’t seen it, VAR arrived to invite him to review which brought Brugge and captain Vanaken from the spot to make it 1-1 in the 17th minute. Viola starts again with their heads down, the best opportunities fall to Gonzalez who however misses the target. However, the lily pressure continues and in the 37th minute here is the reward: Jackers blocks a shot from Bonaventura short, on the rebound the quickest of all is Belotti, who forcefully sends a left-footed shot towards goal. Nothing else happens until half-time, Fiorentina ahead 2-1.
Crazy Fiorentina, gets caught then wins. No changes at the immediate restart of the dance, after a few turns of the clock the first Italian is forced to operate: Sottil gets hurt on a contact in the game and raises the white flag, leaving room for Kouame. At game time the episode that could change the fate of the first leg of the semi-final: a foul by Onyedika in midfield, Oliver draws the yellow card, the second for the midfielder who thus has to go to the shower early. When everything seems ready to manage the last half hour, defensive amnesia arrives which Fiorentina – as often happens to them – pays at a very high price: relaunch by the Jackers goalkeeper which catches everyone unprepared, especially Ranieri, and which Igor Thiago transforms into 2-2 goal with a soft and precise diagonal. The psychological repercussion weighs on Fiorentina’s shoulders, less fluid in constructing attacking actions. A personal initiative from Ikone, stopped by the ever attentive Jackers, rouses Fiorentina from the standby phase. And when everything seems over and the match is headed towards a draw, here’s the flash: it’s given by the newly introduced Nzola, who scores the unexpected 3-2 which also ends the first leg of the Conference League semi-final.
Relive Fiorentina against Club Brugge with TMW!