Fiorentina started their Conference League campaign on the right foot as they beat Twente 2-1 in the playoff first leg at the Artemio Franchi Stadium on Thursday.
Still, thing could have gone better for Vincenzo Italiano’s side, who took a double lead in the first half but saw the Dutch side pulling one back after the restart. Vaclav Cerny’s goal kept the qualification matter open after Nico Gonzales and Arthur Cabral’s winning efforts had given La Viola a comfortable lead.
To celebrate their return to the European stage after five years, the Viola couldn’t hope for a better start as Gonzales was picked by Cristiano Biraghi after just one minute and headed the ball home to fire Italiano’s boys ahead.
Cabral made it two for the home side on 31 minutes, finalizing for the best an assist from Riccardo Sottil.
The 24-year-old Brazilian went close to bag a brace in the second half, but Twente became more aggressive as minutes went by. They were rewarded with Cerny’s goal on 64 minutes, courtesy of brilliant filtering pass by Gijs Smal that caught the Czech winger right on the offside line.
Twente and Fiorentina will face each other again next Thursday in Enschede to determine who will gain access to the Group Stage of the second edition of the Conference League.
MATCH SCORECARD
August 18, 2022 – UEFA Conference League Play-off
FIORENTINA – TWENTE 2-1
SCORERS: 2′ Nico Gonzales (F), 31′ Cabral (F), 64′ Cerny (T)
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FIORENTINA (4-3-3): Terracciano; Venuti (86′ Dodo), Milenkovic, Nastasic, Biraghi; Maleh, Amrabat, Duncan (61′ Mandragora); Nico Gonzalez (86′ Kouyate), Cabral (69′ Jovic), Sottil (61′ Ikoné) Coach: Italiano |
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TWENTE (4-2-3-1): Unnerstall; Brenet, Propper, Pleguezelo (46′ Hilgers), Smal; Zerrouki (90′ Stejn), Vlap; Sadilek, Rots (46′ Cerny), Misidjan (76′ Tzolis); Van Wolfswinkel Coach: Jans |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Milenkovic, Amrabat, Maleh (F), Smal, Propper (T), Vlap (T), Cerny (T); Added Time: 1st Half: 1′, 2nd Half: 5′
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