Fiorentina went 2-0 down, came back to win 3-2 with a hat-trick of Giacomo Bonaventura assists and had a bizarre moment when VAR over-ruled goal-line technology, but got past Braga to book their place in the Conference League last 16.
The Viola won the first leg 4-0 in Portugal, also thanks to Vitor Tormena’s red card, so he was suspended for this tie along with Lorenzo Venuti, plus Nikola Milenkovic injured. Braga wore a special edition jersey with the main sponsor replaced by the Portuguese Red Cross, raising funds for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Tiago Sa made the save on Nico Gonzalez’s early header from a Cristiano Biraghi cross, but Salvatore Sirigu was tested by Rodrigo Gomes and eventually beaten by Andre Horta from the edge of the box with a ferocious, low first-time strike on the bounce.
Braga almost got another, Sirigu right behind the Alvaro Djaló screamer from distance and Luca Ranieri clearing the loose ball, but he did get his goal with a long-range effort that bounced into the far bottom corner.
Fiorentina fortunately woke up and got one back, Giacomo Bonaventura breaking down the right to pull back for Rolando Mandragora’s deflected finish from 12 yards.
Nico Gonzalez’s header was tipped onto the roof of the net and the Viola completed the comeback to 2-2 when substitute Aleksa Terzic rolled across from the right, finding Arthur Cabral sliding in at the back post. Tiago Sa made the save and goal-line technology activated, insisting the ball had gone over first. However, after a lengthy VAR check with the cameras, the goal was disallowed, citing a technical malfunction.
Fiorentina did equalise eventually, Bonaventura surging forward and rolling across for Riccardo Saponara to sweep in with his right boot.
Bonaventura completed a hat-trick of assists and finally gave Arthur Cabral a goal that counted with a volley at the back post.
Fiorentina 3-2 Braga (7-2 agg)
Andre Horta 17 (B), Djaló 35 (B), Mandragora 37 (F), Saponara 58 (F), Cabral 83 (F)
Player statistic
17' | Castro | |||
34' | Álvaro Djaló (Assist: Simon Banza) | |||
Rolando Mandragora (Assist: Giacomo Bonaventura) |
37' | |||
Dodô | 39' |
Nicólas González | 56' | |||
Riccardo Saponara (Assist: Giacomo Bonaventura) |
58' | |||
Lucas Martínez Quarta | 70' | |||
Cristiano Biraghi | 71' | |||
Arthur Cabral (Assist: Giacomo Bonaventura) |
83' |