Fiorentina managed to make what should’ve been a formality into a nail-biter, losing 3-2 at home to Lech Poznan, but still reaching the Conference League semi-final 6-4 on aggregate for the first time since 2014-15.
The Viola had a 4-1 first leg lead from the trip to Poland and were seeking a 10th consecutive Conference League victory, matching the Milan record from 1992-93. Although having back-to-back stalemates in Serie A, they were unbeaten in all competition stretching back to February 12. Sofyan Amrabat, Jonathan Ikone and Josip Brekalo missed out, while Bartosz Salamon failed a doping test for the visitors and Radoslaw Murawski returned.
Vincenzo Italiano had warned not to repeat the Sporting Braga tie, but it was an exact replay, with the trailing team scoring first in Florence as Afonso Sousa pounced on a weak Lorenzo Venuti clearance to fire in from 12 yards.
Riccardo Sottil and Nico Gonzalez tested the goalkeeper from distance, while Alan Czerwinski risked two yellow cards for fouls on Sottil by the 28th minute. He was promptly substituted on 31 minutes.
Murawski did not even look at the ball when a Cristiano Biraghi free kick was floated into the box, instead going straight for Nico Gonzalez with a raised arm, leaving the striker with a nasty cut to his head. However, the referee and VAR waved play on.
The players were increasingly frustrated and Nikola Milenkovic was booked more for dissent than the foul, meaning he’ll be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final.
Jovic didn’t jump enough to reach a Sottil cross, then Rolando Mandragora’s control and half-volley flashed just over the bar.
Sottil pulled back from the by-line and again Jovic didn’t do enough to get there, while Giacomo Bonaventura fired off target from the edge of the area.
Filip Bednarek did just enough to slow down the Jovic angled drive on a Bonaventura assist, allowing Joel Pereira to perform the goal-line clearance.
Lech Poznan also had penalty appeals for a clumsy Aleksa Terzic challenge on Michal Skoras and this time the VAR did call the referee over for an on-field review. A spot-kick was given, Kristoffer Velde sending Pietro Terracciano the wrong way.
It was now 4-3 on aggregate and Sousa had a shot charged down after a strong Velde run down the left, but the warning was not heeded and Lech Poznan got a third too, Antonin Barak failing to stop Karlstrom pulling back from the by-line for Artur Sobiech’s tap-in.
As the away goals rule has been scrapped, this put them 4-4 on aggregate and extra time was looming. Fiorentina had to react and they did, a free kick not cleared well by Murawski and Sottil meeting it with a perfect cushioned volley off the inside of the right boot to steer it into the top corner.
They made sure of qualification in stoppages when Cabral pulled back from the by-line and Nico Gonzalez with one touch sent Gaetano Castrovilli through to sweep in from 14 yards.
It was almost 3-3 moments later, Castrovilli’s angled drive shaving a coat of paint off the far post after a give and go with Gonzalez.
Fiorentina 2-3 Lech Poznan (6-4 agg)
Sousa 9 (L), Velde pen 65 (L), Sobiech 69 (L), Sottil 78 (F), Castrovilli 92 (F)
Player statistic
| 9' |  |
Afonso Sousa | ||
| 17' |  |
Artur Sobiech | ||
| Cristiano Biraghi | |
19' | ||
| 24' | |
Alan Czerwinski | ||
| Nikola Milenkovic | |
35' |
| Aleksa Terzic | |
63' | ||
| 64' |  |
Kristoffer Velde | ||
| Lorenzo Venuti | |
68' | ||
| 69' | |
Artur Sobiech (Assist: Jesper Karlström) | ||
| Riccardo Sottil | |
78' | ||
| 83' | |
Nika Kvekveskiri | ||
| 88' | |
Michal Skoras | ||
| Gaetano Castrovilli (Assist: Nicólas González) |
|
90+2' |
Match statistic
