Fiorentina booked their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals for the third consecutive season, advancing 4-3 on aggregate despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Slovenian side NK Celje in the quarter-final second leg in Florence on Thursday. Moise Kean scored the crucial aggregate-winning goal for the Viola.
Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Fiorentina extended their lead in the 37th minute when Rolando Mandragora finished smartly after being played through by defender Marin Pongračić, giving the hosts a 3-1 aggregate lead at halftime. Both sides had chances before the opener, with Celje’s Tamar Svetlin forcing a good save from David De Gea, while Mandragora and Luca Ranieri went close for the hosts.
The tie was dramatically turned on its head early in the second half as Celje struck twice. Aljoša Matko beat De Gea at his near post in the 54th minute after running onto a through ball from Luka Žabukovnik. Then, just over ten minutes later (65th minute), Klemen Nemanič headed home from a Svit Sešlar corner to level the aggregate score at 3-3.
However, Fiorentina responded almost immediately. In the 67th minute, Moise Kean ran onto a floated pass from Mandragora, cut inside his marker, and drilled a finish into the far corner. After a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal was confirmed, restoring Fiorentina’s aggregate lead at 4-3.
Fiorentina had two further goals disallowed for offside later in the game – one from Ranieri and another from Kean in the 89th minute – but Vincenzo Italiano’s side held on to secure their place in the last four.
The two-time runners-up will now face Spanish side Real Betis in the semi-finals, as they continue their quest to lift the Conference League trophy after final defeats in the previous two seasons.
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