Abde Ezzalzouli scored a decisive extra-time goal for Real Betis, securing a 4-3 aggregate victory over Fiorentina on Thursday and propelling the Spanish club to their first-ever European final. They will face Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League final.
The second leg of the semi-final ended in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, forcing the tie into an additional period where Ezzalzouli’s strike proved crucial. While Betis celebrated becoming the first Spanish side to reach the Conference League final, Fiorentina experienced further disappointment, exiting at the semi-final stage after consecutive final defeats in the competition in previous seasons.
Fiorentina, trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Seville, faced a challenging task. Real Betis extended their aggregate lead around the half-hour mark when Antony converted a free-kick with a curling shot that found the net off the post.
However, the Italian hosts responded swiftly. Just four minutes later, an unmarked Robin Gosens headed in from a corner to reduce the deficit. Gosens struck again three minutes before halftime, rising above Betis defender Marc Bartra to power another header from a corner, completing a dramatic first-half turnaround for Fiorentina and putting them ahead in the tie on the night.
The intensity continued after the break. Betis’ Johnny Cardoso came close with a powerful long-range effort that struck the crossbar. Late in normal time, Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea made a crucial double save to deny Antony after the Betis player broke through one-on-one.
The deadlock in the aggregate score led to extra time. Seven minutes into the additional period, Antony delivered a cross that found Ezzalzouli, who scored from close range to send Real Betis to the final.
The final against Chelsea, who defeated Swedish club Djurgarden 5-1 on aggregate, will take place in Wroclaw, Poland, on May 28.
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