After a three-goal defeat at first leg, Bruges hosted Fiorentina in an attempt to become the first Belgian club to reach a European final, 31 years following Antwerp. It was a failure since the Blauw en Zwart shared the stake once morest Fiorentina following a penalty at the end of the match (1-1).
The men of Nicky Hayen yet take the initiative in the first minutes and are ultimately rewarded at their first opportunity. After an excellent center of Hans Vanaken, Maxim De Cuyper deflects the leather to deceive Pietro Terracciano. The Bruges players thus made up their ground, while the goal was later awarded to captain Vanaken.
In the process, Simon Mignoletback in the cages, saves his team following a duel won once morest Nicolas Gonzalez. Far from being discouraged, visitors create other opportunities through Christian Kouamé et Andrea Belotti but the Bruges defense resists in the first half.
Returning from the locker room, the finalists of the last Conference League pushed to equalize. At the 75th, Cristiano Biraghi thinks he finds the net following an excellent free kick but the ball crashes onto the crossbar. In the process, the former Anderlecht player Kouamé saw his head pushed back by… the post.
But with less than ten minutes to go, Brandon Mechele places his knee on the face of M’Bala I’m Going, forcing the referee to whistle a penalty. A penalty perfectly kicked by Lucas Beltran.
The Italians then simply managed the end of the match to reach the C4 final for the second time in a row despite a big opportunity from Vanaken at the very end of the game.
The final in question will take place on May 29 in Greece, while the other finalist will be known this Thursday following the duel between Aston Villa and Olympiakos. The Greeks won the first leg four goals to two.
